Near Belmont in Tishomingo County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

River, Canal and Cut

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 4, 2015

1. River, Canal and Cut Marker

Image or diagram of Bay Springs Lock and Dam
is missing from the marker

Inscription. The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway has three main parts. The largest section from Demopolis, Alabama, north to Amory, Mississippi, utilizes the Tombigbee River but changes and shortens the existing channel with dams, locks, and short cuts. From Amory a canal section using a chain-of-lakes construction extends to the Bay Springs Lock and Dam. The final section cuts deeply through high ground to the Tennessee River.

Waterway Statistics

Total length          234 miles (377 km)
     River section          149 miles (240 km)
     Canal section          46 miles (74 km)
     Divide cut section          39 miles (63 km)
Standard width          300 feet (91 m)
Divide cut width          280 feet (85 m)
Minimum channel depth          9 feet (2.7 m)
Lock dimensions     110 feet X 600 feet (34 m X 183 m)
Material excavated     307 million cubic yards (235 million cubic meters)

Operation of a Lock

1. Upper gates (D) and fill valve (B) are closed. Lower gates (C) are opened and towboat enters lock.
2. Lower gates (C) and drain valve (A) are closed. Fill valve (B) is opened and water level in lock rises.
3. Upper gates (D) are opened and towboat proceeds upstream. The process is reversed for towboats going downstream.

Erected by

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National Park Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Natchez Trace series list.

Location. 34° 30.34′ N, 88° 19.435′ W. Marker is near Belmont, Mississippi, in Tishomingo County. It can be reached from Natchez Trace Parkway (at milepost 293.2), 0.3 miles west of John Rankin Highway (County Road 1). Marker is located 500 feet west of the parking lot for the Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway turnoff from the Natchez Trace Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dennis MS 38838, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically ast Mississippi in the North Mississippi Hills. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jamie L. Whitten Historic Landmark (here, next to this marker); Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway (here, next to this marker); Butler Dogtrot Cabin (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Butler Dogtrot Cabin (approx. 1.3 miles away); Pharr Mounds (approx. 6 miles away); Mac McAnally (approx. 6½ miles away); Donivan Slough (approx. 9.2 miles away); a different marker also named Donivan Slough (approx. 9.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belmont.

Also see . . .
1. Natchez Trace. Official National Park Service website. (Submitted on June 26, 2015.)

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 4, 2015

2. Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

Close-up of map on marker

2. Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway. From the Encyclopedia of Alabama. (Submitted on June 26, 2015.)

Markers at Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway Turnoff image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 4, 2015

3. Markers at Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway Turnoff

Marker on the right side

Markers Overlooking the<br>Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 4, 2015

4. Markers Overlooking the
Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway

Markers and the Jamie L. Whitten Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, June 4, 2015

5. Markers and the Jamie L. Whitten Bridge

Marker is located at end of path 500 feet west of
the parking lot for the Tennessee - Tombigbee Waterway
turnoff from the Natchez Trace Parkway

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 659 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 26, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.