Tallapoosa

The Tallapoosa River Basin drains a total of 4680 square miles, but only about 15% lies in Georgia, with the remainder in Alabama. The Tallapoosa River eventually joins the Coosa (also originating in northwest Georgia) to form the Alabama River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is a highly biodiverse river with a number of imperiled species. The name Tallapoosa comes from the Muscogee words Tvlofv puse/a, meaning “grandmother town,” because the Tallapoosa branch of the Muscogee tribe is considered one of the oldest groups in the Southeast. The Alabama section of the Tallapoosa River holds four hydroelectric dams along its 265 miles, providing energy services along with recreational areas, but these dams have also contributed to the decline in native aquatic species. Continue exploring the Tallapoosa below.