When Dr. Andreas Fath began this ambitious project, he entered the headwaters of the Tennessee River just a few miles downstream from Seven Islands State Birding Park. This 416-acre park occupies a peninsula embraced by a curve of the French Broad River, one of the Tennessee’s two primary feeder waterways Read more…
The Tennessee River is one of the most aquatically biodiverse river systems in North America. It is also habitat for the largest nesting population of bald eagles in the United States. In fact, Ijams Nature Center is fortunate to see bald eagles frequently, soaring over the river in search of Read more…
Today marks the 4th day of the historic TenneSwim. As Dr. Fath swims through East Tennessee, I hope he is having a good experience in our waters. As the Education Director at Ijams Nature Center, I lead a team of amazing naturalists that are all focused on helping people make Read more…
Today, Dr. Fath and the TenneSwim team went through the Fort Loudoun lock. It is the first of a series of locks that help boats move from one Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) reservoir to another. The process normally takes about 45 minutes. Researching the locks results in a list of names straight Read more…
As fun as it is to talk about records, wildlife, and belly flops- there is also a serious side to Dr. Fath’s historic swim. At its heart, TenneSwim is a water quality research and awareness effort, with the goal of helping people understand their impact on our environment. Today in Read more…
In a scenic little corner of the Tennessee River lies Ijams Nature Center. Just a mile downstream from the headwaters of the mighty river, Ijams is a lovely oasis in the urban setting of Knoxville, TN. For over 100 years, residents and visitors to the Scruffy City have found at Read more…