Chattanooga TN (Tennessee)

Chattanooga TN is a Tennessee River/Ohio River cruise port and city in Tennessee USA (Hamilton County). By population (around 185,000, metro around 550,000) the city is ranked Tennessee state's 4th-largest - after Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville). Chattanooga is approx 112 mi (180 km) southwest of Knoxville, approx 134 mi (216 km) southeast of Nashville, approx 118 mi (190 km) northwest of Atlanta Georgia, approx 102 mi (164 km) northeast of Huntsville Alabama.

Tennessee River (fka Cherokee River) is the Ohio River's largest tributary, with length approx 652 mi (1049 km). As cruise port, Chattanooga TN is included in the schedule of one of the USA's largest river cruise companies - AQSC-American Queen Voyages/Steamboat Company. Next tables show American Duchess ship's 7-night/8-day itineraries that visit Chattanooga. Prices started from ~USD 2500 per person with double occupancy.

In 2022, AQSC introduced another 7-day itinerary - between Nashville/Clarksville and Chattanooga. The southbound cruisetour starts with an overnight hotel in Nashville TN and bus travel (on the following day) to Clarksville for boarding the riverboat. The northbound cruisetour starts with an overnight hotel in Chattanooga and boarding the riverboat on the next day.

During the Civil War (1861-65), Chattanooga was a major battleground as here connected ~50% of the Confederacy's forces - deployed in the Georgia state's cities Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus and Macon. The city's railroads and processing plants were vital for the Confederacy's supply of raw materials and the production of munitions. Following the Battle of Chickamauga (September 18-20, 1863), the defeated Union Army retreated in Chattanooga. Battle of Chickamauga is considered one of three battles in 2863 that tipped the scales of the American Civil War toward the Union forces - together with the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3) and the Siege of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4). In summer 1864 followed the Atlanta Campaign (series of battles throughout Georgia and Atlanta).

As a major transportation hub (converging multiple main roads and railroads), Chattanooga grew also as one of Southeastern USA's largest heavy industrial cities. The city's current economy is based on industries like automotive (VW-Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant, also producing electric vehicles), manufacturing and distribution (chemicals, heavy equipment, tires, sporting goods), food and beverage production, healthcare, insurance, logistics, real estate, office services, banking, mall shopping, tourism.

The city (nicknamed "Chatt" and "Nooga") has 9 neighborhoods and 19 suburbs. Best-known tourist attractions include Tennessee Aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga Zoo, Raccoon Mountain Caverns), arboretums/botanical garden devoted to trees (Reflection Riding, Bonny Oaks, Cherokee, Cherokee Trail), annual festivals (Riverbend, Nightfall, Dulcimer, National Folk, Film Festival).

The USA's fastest Internet service (one-gigabit-per-second) was first launched in Chattanooga TN in 2010 (September). Here is also Coca-Cola's first bottling plant. Chickamauga Dam impounds Chickamauga Lake (14670 hectares/~147 km2/57 mi2) and feeds into Nickajack Lake (reservoir created by Nickajack Dam in Marion County).