Chattooga River in the Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina, United States

Chattooga River in North Carolina, United States

Rivers have long played an important role in life across the world, supporting communities, wildlife and industry. Featured in today's image, the Chattooga River runs for about 92 kilometres across Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina in the United States. Flowing through the Appalachian Mountains, it winds between steep, forested slopes, rocky gorges and cascading rapids before reaching Lake Tugaloo. The river remains one of the Southeast's few major free-flowing rivers and is known for its scenery, whitewater recreation and wildlife.

The river corridor is home to a variety of plant and animal species, while its waters support activities such as trout fishing, rafting, kayaking and canoeing. Often called the crown jewel of the Southeast, the Chattooga offers everything from quieter stretches and deep pools to powerful rapids and waterfalls. It also has a literary connection: the river was the model for the fictional Cahulawassee River in James Dickey's 1970 novel 'Deliverance.' The 1972 film adaptation was also filmed along parts of the Chattooga.