You Can Stand In Three Different States At Once At Nickajack Lake Near Georgia
By Marisa Roman|Published March 20, 2020
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Marisa Roman
Author
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
If you’ve ever wanted to be in three places at once but didn’t know exactly how, we have the information you’ve wanted. Right near Nickajack Lake along the Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia border, you can put two legs and an arm in three different states at the same time. It isn’t magic, it isn’t a lie, it is simply being at the exact right place at the right time.
If ever you’ve wanted to be in three different places at the same time, this is your chance. By visiting a survey marker in the woods near Nickajack Lake, you can stand in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia simultaneously.
What is known as the "Tri-State Spot" is a metal marker that points to where all three states come together.
This tiny benchmark is represented as a disc on a concrete pillar right in the woods, with trees that are marked with colored caution tape to lead people to the right place.
But while this fascinating place is perfect for locals looking for a little bit of lighthearted fun, there is a little bit of controversy surrounding the spot.
In 1826, the state of Georgia hired a professor and mathematician to mark the spot where all three states came together—however, James Camak missed the exact spot by a mile—and still, it became the official border location.
180 years later, a controversy brewed, as Georgia was going through a severe drought. Someone mentioned that the marker was a mile off-course, which meant that a small part of the Tennessee River and the Nickajack Lake would have been in Georgia, allowing them to use the water.
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Georgia asked Tennessee if they could siphon some of the water, to which Tennessee replied a firm no. Eventually, this went to the Georgia state senate many, many years later to take back what is rightfully theirs, to which again, Tennessee said no.
So while you can still visit this marker in the woods, separating the three states, it has quite a tricky history for the state of Georgia.
Have you ever been in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia at the same time before? Share with us your experience in the comments section! Or if you’re looking for more information about how to stand in all three states at the same time, then check out Waymarking.com!
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