Oconaluftee River

… is formed in the Great Smoky Mountains in NE Swain County by the junction of Beech Flats Prong and Kephart Prong. For a part of its course, it forms the Jackson-Swain county line. It flows SE into Tuckasegee River. The name, long written as two words (Ocona Luftee), is from the Cherokee words Egwanulti or Egwani (river) and nulati or nuti (near; beside). The Cherokee town of Oconalufte, mentioned by explorer-naturalist William Bartram about 1775, was probably on the lower course of the river at present Birdtown.