Great Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains are a major mountain range in the southern Appalachian Mountains chain. Also called the Smoky Mountains or the Smokies, they straddle the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, and are entirely west of the Eastern Continental Divide.

Related Topics:
Mountain range - Appalachian Mountains - Chain - Tennessee - North Carolina - Eastern Continental Divide

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The crown jewel of this region is Great Smoky Mountains National Park, established as a national park in the 1930s. Much of the range is also protected by the Nantahala National Forest outside of the park.

Related Topics:
Crown jewel - Great Smoky Mountains National Park - National park - 1930s - Nantahala National Forest

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The name of the area comes from the natural haze that often hangs over it. As in the neighboring Blue Ridge Mountains just to the east, hydrocarbons produced by trees and other local vegetation, as well as higher humidity produce a bluish cast to the sky, even over short distances. Visibility now is dramatically reduced by smog from both the Southeastern U.S. and the Midwest, and daily smog forecasts are prepared daily by the Environmental Protection Agency for both nearby Knoxville and Asheville.

Related Topics:
Haze - Blue Ridge Mountains - Hydrocarbon - Tree - Vegetation - Humidity - Sky - Visibility - Smog - Southeastern U.S. - Midwest - Forecast - Environmental Protection Agency - Knoxville - Asheville

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Smog is also killing the spruce trees at higher elevations, while the invasive hemlock woolly adelgids attack the hemlocks, and the balsam woolly adelgids attack the firs. Japanese ladybird beetles have been brought in, in an attempt to control the adelgids.

Related Topics:
Spruce - Invasive - Hemlock woolly adelgid - Hemlock - Balsam woolly adelgid - Fir - Japanese ladybird beetle - Adelgid

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Other subalpine species more typical of Maine and even Canada are also found at the highest elevations, above about 5000 feet or 1500 meters AMSL. Some bird migration actually takes place vertically, with the "local" birds going up and down the mountains rather than north and south.

Related Topics:
Maine - Canada - AMSL - Bird migration - Bird

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Many wildflowers grow, including bee balm, fire pink, Solomon's seal, Dutchman's breeches, various trilliums, and even hardy orchids like showy orchis.

Related Topics:
Wildflower - Bee balm - Fire pink - Solomon's seal - Dutchman's breeches - Trillium - Hardy - Orchid - Showy orchis

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There are two native species of rhododendron in the area. The Catawba rhododendron has purple flowers in May and June, while the rosebay rhododendron has shorter leaves and blooms a light pink in June and July. The orange-flowered and deciduous flame azalea closely follows along with the Catawbas. The closely-related mountain laurel blooms in between the two, and all of the blooms progress from lower to higher elevations.

Related Topics:
Rhododendron - Catawba rhododendron - Flower - Rosebay rhododendron - Flame azalea - Mountain laurel

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The reverse is true in autumn, when nearly-bare mountaintops covered in rime ice (frozen fog) can separated from green valleys by very bright and varied leaf colors. The rhododendrons are deciduous broadleafs, whose leaves droop in order to shed wet and heavy snows that come through the region in winter.

Related Topics:
Autumn - Rime ice - Fog - Valley - Deciduous - Broadleaf - Snow - Winter

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Several rivers rise from streams in the Smokies, including the Little Pigeon River, Oconaluftee River, Nantahala River and several others. The French Broad River actually originates in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and flows through Asheville and all the way across the northeastern end of the Smokies. A Southern Railway line runs along the river as well.

Related Topics:
River - Stream - Little Pigeon River - Oconaluftee River - Nantahala River - French Broad River - Asheville - Southern Railway

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Flooding can and does occur after heavy rains. In 2004, the remnants of Hurricane Frances caused major flooding, landslides, and high winds, soon followed by Hurricane Ivan which made it even worse. Other post-hurricanes, including 1989's Hurricane Hugo, have caused similar damage in the Smokies.

Related Topics:
Flooding - Rain - 2004 - Hurricane Frances - Landslide - Wind - Hurricane Ivan - Hurricane - 1989 - Hurricane Hugo

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The culture of this area is that of Appalachia, and previously the Cherokee people. Tourism is a huge draw to the area, particularly to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina. Rafting, either leisurely tubing or in full whitewater, is common all summer. Skiing is also done in winter, though for a short season, at places like Cataloochee and Ober Gatlinburg.

Related Topics:
Culture - Appalachia - Cherokee - Tourism - Pigeon Forge - Gatlinburg - Cherokee, North Carolina - Rafting - Whitewater - Summer - Skiing - Winter - Cataloochee - Ober Gatlinburg

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Country music legend Dolly Parton is from the Smokies, born and raised in Pigeon Forge, and lending her name to name to her Dollywood amusement park.

Related Topics:
Country music - Dolly Parton - Dollywood - Amusement park

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