Bussell Island is situated where the Little Tennessee River joins the Tennessee River, just over 601 miles (967 km) upstream from the mouth of the latter.
 The island originally stretched for about a mile up the Little Tennessee, but the construction of Tellico Dam across the island's west river channel in the 1970s created a reservoir that flooded the southern two-thirds of the island.
 To contain the reservoir, an earthen levee was built along the island's new south shore and across the island's east river channel, connecting the island to the mainland.
 TVA's construction of a canal connecting the Tellico and Fort Loudoun reservoirs severed this section of the mainland, thus creating a new island that stretches for about a mile east-to-west, and touches three TVA lakes—Fort Loudoun, Watts Bar, and Tellico.

Lenoir City is located along the Tennessee River opposite Bussell Island.
 U.S. Route 321 (Lamar Alexander Parkway) crosses the island's new eastern half, and State Route 444 (Tellico Parkway) traverses the center of the island, with the two roads intersecting on the island's eastern tip.
 US-321 crosses via the J. Carmichael Bridge, which spans both Fort Loudoun Dam and the canal.

John W. Emmert, who conducted excavations on the island in 1887, stated that the original island covered 200 acres (81 ha), and rose to a maximum of 15 feet (4.6 m) above the river.
 Emmert described the island's banks as "steep" with "heavy timber and much cane growing along them."
 Emmert also noted that the island was occasionally submerged when the Little Tennessee flooded, and noted that his excavation work was interrupted by one such flood which submerged the island to upwards of 12 feet (3.7 m).
Bussell Island is situated where the Little Tennessee River joins the Tennessee River, just over 601 miles (967 km) upstream from the mouth of the latter.  The island originally stretched for about a mile up the Little Tennessee, but the construction of Tellico Dam across the island's west river channel in the 1970s created a reservoir that flooded the southern two-thirds of the island.  To contain the reservoir, an earthen levee was built along the island's new south shore and across the island's east river channel, connecting the island to the mainland.  TVA's construction of a canal connecting the Tellico and Fort Loudoun reservoirs severed this section of the mainland, thus creating a new island that stretches for about a mile east-to-west, and touches three TVA lakes—Fort Loudoun, Watts Bar, and Tellico.
Lenoir City is located along the Tennessee River opposite Bussell Island.  U.S. Route 321 (Lamar Alexander Parkway) crosses the island's new eastern half, and State Route 444 (Tellico Parkway) traverses the center of the island, with the two roads intersecting on the island's eastern tip.  US-321 crosses via the J. Carmichael Bridge, which spans both Fort Loudoun Dam and the canal.
John W. Emmert, who conducted excavations on the island in 1887, stated that the original island covered 200 acres (81 ha), and rose to a maximum of 15 feet (4.6 m) above the river.  Emmert described the island's banks as "steep" with "heavy timber and much cane growing along them."  Emmert also noted that the island was occasionally submerged when the Little Tennessee flooded, and noted that his excavation work was interrupted by one such flood which submerged the island to upwards of 12 feet (3.7 m).
Bussell Island