The Ocoee River is a favorite of whitewater enthusiasts from around the world. A section of the river below Ocoee Dam No. 3 was the whitewater venue for the 1996 Olympics.
Ocoee Dam No. 3, located in southeast Tennessee, is the third in a string of three TVA dams on the Ocoee River. It was built by TVA during World War II to produce power for the war effort. Along with the other Ocoee dams, it is an integral part of
TVA’s hydroelectric system and provides important recreation benefits.
The Ocoee No. 3 powerhouse is located more than two miles downstream from the dam. At the dam, water from the river is diverted into a tunnel and carried to the powerhouse downstream. Because of the drop in elevation from the dam to the powerhouse, power generation is significantly higher than it would be if the dam were right next to the powerhouse.