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Tennessee is located in the southeastern region of the United States. It contains 41,220 square
miles (106,759 square kilometers or 10,675,931 hectares) of land, and 926 square miles (2,398 square
kilometers or 239,833 hectares) are covered by water. The state’s total area of 42,146 square miles
(109,158 square kilometers or 10,915,764 hectares) makes it the 36th largest among the United States.
Tennessee is a long state, extending 440 miles (708 kilometers) from east to west. The state is
bordered to the north by Kentucky and Virginia; North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to
the south; to the east by North Carolina; and to the west by Missouri and Arkansas.
Tennessee is divided by three large regions: East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and West Tennessee,
all of which are topographically and culturally distinct from each other. Geographically, Tennessee
can be characterized by six land regions: the Blue Ridge of eastern Tennessee, with the some of the
highest mountains east of the Mississippi River, including the Great Smoky Mountains, and an average
elevation of 5,000 feet (1.5 kilometers) above sea level; the Appalachian Ridge and Valley, west of
the Blue Ridge and comprised of rich valleys and forested ridges; the Appalachian Plateau,
distinguished by flat-topped mountains and distinct valleys; the Highland Rim, an elevated plain
surrounding the Nashville Basin; the fertile farmlands of the Nashville Basin; and the Gulf Coastal
Plain, west of the Highland Rim and Nashville Basin, generally flat, rich river-bottom lands that are
part of the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico. Major rivers in the Volunteer State include the
Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland, Clinch, Duck, and Holston Rivers; major lakes and reservoirs
include Kentucky, Reelfoot, Norris, Chickamauga, and Cherokee Lakes, and the Tims Ford Reservoir.
The state’s highest point is Clingman’s Dome, located in the Great Smoky Mountains, and rising 6,643 feet
(2.02 kilometers) above sea level.
Tennessee offers a temperate climate, generally pleasant with warm summers and mild winters. The
climate can vary dramatically, however, with the influence of the state’s diverse topography; the
climate is considered humid continental in the northern part of the state and humid subtropical in
the south. The state enjoys four distinct seasons, with spring and fall being particularly
delightful. Summers can be hot and occasionally oppressive due to high humidity, with an average
July high temperature of 83 degrees F (28.3 degrees C) in the Memphis area. Winters trend towards
mild and wet. The flat western part of the state experiences the warmest temperatures, and the
mountainous east enjoys cooler summer temperatures and experiences the lowest winter temperatures.
The eastern mountains can therefore experience heavy snowfall, especially in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Rainfall is most prevalent in winter and early spring; the average annual rainfall amount ranges from
40 to 50 inches (102 to 127 centimeters). Severe weather can occur in the form of infrequent
thunderstorms. The driest time of the year in Tennessee is fall, which is perhaps also the most
pleasant time to visit, as the extraordinary diversity of deciduous trees displays tremendous, varied
autumn color.
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