French Broad River

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French Broad River, 210 mi (338 km) long, rising in the Blue Ridge Mts., W N.C., and flowing N and then NW to Knoxville, E Tenn., where it joins with the Holston to form the Tennessee River. The French Broad River was an important settlers' route from the southeast coastal states into Tennessee during the colonial period. On the river is Douglas Dam, part of the Tennessee Valley Authority, forming Lake Douglas, which is used for flood control.