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  2. Scenes From The Tennessee Valley

Locking Through Wilson Dam

At 120 feet tall, Wilson Dam Lock is the tallest single lift lock east of the Rocky Mountains. While some locks lift or lower boats in stages, Wilson Lock lifts or lowers boats and barges as much as 100 feet in a single operation.
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This is a terrible photo but it shows the downriver (west) gate starting to open indicating that the lock has been drained - 7:28 PM
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This is a terrible photo but it shows the downriver (west) gate starting to open indicating that the lock has been drained - 7:28 PM

IMG3144Wilson Dam

  • Looking back toward the upriver gate of the Wilson Lock from the deck of the Pickwick Belle - 7:20 PM
  • Looking back up river from the deck of the Pickwick Belle - 7:22 PM
  • Looking back at the upriver gate - 7:26 PM. This gate, on the upstream side of the main lock weighs 210 tons.
  • 7:28 PM looking at the upstream gate.
  • This is a terrible photo but it shows the downriver (west) gate starting to open indicating that the lock has been drained - 7:28 PM
  • The downriver gate continues to open - 7:30 PM - It took less than 20 minutes to lower the water level in the lock and begin opening the lower gate
  • 7:30 PM - The gates continue to open. The Pickwick Belle dropped more than 90 feet as the water was drained from the lock.
  • Looking up the north wall of the lock from the deck of the Pickwick Belle - 7:31 PM
  • 7:31 PM - The gates are almost completely opened. Each of the two gates on the downstream side of the lock weigh 750 tons.
  • 7:32 PM - Gates are completely opened. Started pumping water out of the lock at 7:10 PM
  • Moving out of the lock and into Pickwick Lake - 7:36 PM
  • Reflections along the canal after leaving the Wilson Lock
  • Traffic in the barge canal. 7,126 barges passed through Wilson Dam Lock in 2009. 1,189 recreational vessels used the Wilson Lock in 2009.
  • A barge approaching the Wilson Lock from the west. A 15 barge tow can pass through the main lock in less than three hours.
  • Heading east into the Wilson Lock from Pickwick Lake. The Tennessee Valley Authority operates the dam and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers run the lock.
  • Passing under the Patton Island Bridge
  • Passing by the old railroad bridge on the Tennessee River
  • Another view of the old railroad bridge at dusk
  • Passing under the O'Neal Bridge
  • Entering Florence Harbor at dusk
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