During summers, the Tennessee River would dry up to a trickle and during winters and springs, the river would often swell up, flooding low-lying areas and washing away fertile farmlands. In 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to harness energy from this uncontrollable river into a vast reservoir system to provide multiple benefits for the region.

Nearly 60 years later, the river has given the Volunteer State yet another benefit. On May 1 this year, the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga opened its exhibits to guide visitors through a series of river mazes. Funded as a private, non-profit, educa-tional organization, it is dedicated to the under-standing, conservation and enjoyment of rivers.

Focusing primarily on the natural habitats and wildlife of the Tennessee River and other major rivers of the world, the aquarium takes visitors on a journey of freshwater life. From the Tennessee River's source in the Appalachian high country, through the Tennessee Valley, visitors can explore the natural ecosystems of this and other great regions. The Mississippi River and other great rivers in Africa, South America, Asia, Siberia and Canada, each contain unique elements to tantalize the viewers.

"The Tennessee Aquarium gives visitors their first look at the underwater world of the river," said William Flynn, president of the aquarium. "Most people have seen saltwater fish in their ocean habitats, but few have seen freshwater fish in their natural environment - the rushing water, quiet pools, and nooks and crannies along the river shoreline."

Designed by Cambridge Seven Associates Inc. of Boston, the $45 million aquarium recreates these riverine habitats in seven major freshwater tanks and two terrestrial environments. The aquarium leads visitors on a two-tiered path through this river world: first through the lush surroundings of the huge terrestrial forest and swamp habitats, and then down, via the building's central canyon, into the underwater realm of the river.

"The Tennessee River system is a vibrant, complex, and fragile world," explains Peter Chermayeff, founding prin-cipal of Cambridge Seven Associates Inc. "Hundreds of species of animals and plants live there, each uniquely ad-apted to its particular habitat. I think that visitors to the aqua-rium will begin to appreciate fresh water - rivers, streams, lakes and swamps - as the lifeblood of the continents."

Frank Zaremba of Lyons/ Zaremba in Boston helped design the exhibits, the majo-rity of which related to regional places. Zaremba intended to create a natural habitat in hopes that the animals could relate to their new home. Lyons/Zaremba analyzed the stream edges, bogs, and topography inside reservoirs around the Tennessee River to create an environment to house over 4,000 living specimens rep-resenting 350 species of fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

The 130,000 square foot aquarium rises to the height of a 12 story building. The rich palette of animals includes many varieties of trout and bass, as well as unusual -looking paddlefish and gar; river otters; kingfishers, songbirds, and water fowl; alligators and alligator snapping turtles.

The aquarium contains five major galleries. Appalachian Cove Forest, located under the building's 70 foot high pyramid shaped glass roof, covers 6,000 to 7,000 square feet. The greatest challenge for Lyons/Zaremba was to simulate the normal day and night cycle.

Tennessee River Gallery examines the river at midstream, comparing the original Tennessee with the river as it now exists - a reservoir system, profoundly influenced by man. A high-light of this gallery is one of the world's largest freshwater tanks, which explores over 30 species of fish at Nickajack Lake, a reservoir created by the TVA's damming of the Tennessee River.

Discovery Falls, a series of interactive displays and small tanks, gives a close look at the river's interdependent eco-system and at animal adap-tation in a variety of freshwater environments.

Mississippi Delta explores the river as it slows to meet the sea, joining creeks, streams and lakes toform the fertile swamp-lands of the Louisiana Bayou.

Rivers of the World explores six of the world's great river systems. Highlights include: a recreation of the flooded forests of the Amazon River, where red-bellied piranha swim among the tree branches; a tank devoted to the Zaire River, home of small, exotic fish and the aggressive tiger-fish; and an exhibit presenting the predators of the cold water St. Lawrence River.

The Tennessee Aquarium commands attention in down-town Chattanooga. The Tennessee River is a con-tinuing reference point of the building; visitors can see it from a huge window in the aquarium's lobby, as well as from windows and patios located on several floors.

Visitors at the Tennessee Aquarium can take advantage of the rich habitats and wildlife of the Tennessee River and learn more about the great rivers of the world. LASN