Wolf River (Tennessee)

Wolf River
Bottomland forest and wetland in the Wolf River's uppermost headwaters
Country	United States
Basin features
Main source	Baker's Pond, Holly Springs National Forest, near Walnut, Mississippi 540 ft (160 m) 34°56′36″N 89°01′55″W / 34.94333°N 89.03194°W / 34.94333; -89.03194
River mouth	Mississippi River at Downtown Memphis, Tennessee 210 ft (64 m) 35°10′57″N 90°03′25″W / 35.18250°N 90.05694°W / 35.18250; -90.05694Coordinates: 35°10′57″N 90°03′25″W / 35.18250°N 90.05694°W / 35.18250; -90.05694
Basin size	889 sq mi (2,300 km2)
Physical characteristics
Length	90 mi (140 km)
Discharge	Average rate: 1,327 cu ft/s (37.6 m3/s)

The Wolf River rises in the Holly Springs National Forest at Baker's Pond in Benton County, Mississippi, north of Ashland, and flows northwest into Tennessee, draining a large portion of Memphis and northern and eastern Shelby County, Tennessee, before entering the Mississippi River near the northern end of Mud Island, north of downtown Memphis.

The Wolf River area is home to deer, otter, dirt pigs, mink, bobcat, fox, coyote, turkey, and a wide variety of waterfowl, reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic life. Migrating osprey, great egret, and bald eagle have been spotted along this river as well.

There are Tennessee state record trees located in its bottomland forests, including a Tupelo Gum that is 17 feet (5.2 m) in circumference. Other hardwoods include green ash, red maple, swamp chestnut oak, blackgum, and the majestic bald cypress. Native flowering plants include cardinal flower, ironweed, swamp iris, false loosestrife, spatterdock, swamp rose, blue phlox and spring cress.