A rainy day in the Great Smoky Mountains, Western North Carolina

Appalachian Mountain system

The Great Smoky Mountains are a major mountain range in the southern part of the Appalachian Mountains, the second ridge line forming a north-south running mountain chain from the Eastern United States and bordering the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 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. Image File history File links RainySmokies. ... Image File history File links RainySmokies. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (432x613, 55 KB)The Appalachians - USGS http://3dparks. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (432x613, 55 KB)The Appalachians - USGS http://3dparks. ... A rainy day in the Great Smoky Mountains, Western North Carolina The Appalachian Mountains (French: les Appalaches) are a vast system of North American mountains, partly in Canada, but mostly in the United States, forming a zone, from 100 to 300 miles wide, running from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, 1... For exotic financial options, see Mountain range (options). ... The Appalachian Mountains are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. ... The most general definition of mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands. ... Red shows states east of the Mississippi River, pink shows states not fully eastern or western The U.S. Eastern states are the states east of the Mississippi River. ... Blue Ridge Mountains, Shining Rock Wilderness Area Appalachian Mountain system The Blue Ridge is a mountain chain in the eastern United States, part of the Appalachian Mountains, forming their eastern front from Georgia to Pennsylvania. ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Largest metro area Charlotte metro area Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (900 km)  - % water 9. ... North American continental divides. ...

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the prominent feature of the mountains. It was established as a national park in the 1930s, and with over 9 million visits per year, it is the most-visited national park in the United States[1]. Much of the range is also protected as the Nantahala National Forest, Pisgah National Forest, and Cherokee National Forest outside of the park. Cades Cove panorama The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. ... This article is about national parks. ... Cullasaja Falls, Nantahala National Forest. ... The Pisgah National Forest covers 1,076,711 acres (4,357 km²) of mountainous terrain across western North Carolina. ... Cherokee National Forest is a large National Forest operated by the U.S. Forest Service. ...

The name of the area comes from the natural haze that often hangs over it. As in the neighboring Blue Ridge Mountains 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 United States and the Midwest, and smog forecasts are prepared daily by the Environmental Protection Agency for both nearby Knoxville, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina. Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other pollutant particles obscure the normal clarity of the sky. ... Look up Hydrocarbon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth. ... Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants, and is, by far, the most abundant biotic element of the biosphere. ... Humidity is the amount of water vapor in air. ... For other uses, see Sky (disambiguation). ... In Meteorology, ability is a measure of the nothingness at which an object or light can be seen. ... For other uses, see Smog (disambiguation). ... The US Southeast is the eastern portion of the Southern United States, but the Census Bureau does not provide a standard definition of a Southeast region of the United States, and organizations that need to subdivide the US are free to define a Southeast region to fit their needs. ... This article is about the Midwestern region in the United States. ... Prediction of future events is an ancient human wish. ... EPA redirects here. ... Knoxville redirects here. ... Not to be confused with Ashville. ...

Peaks

The Great Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Most of the major peaks of the Great Smokies are situated along a 75-mile (120 km) crest stretching roughly from the Little Tennessee River in the west to the Pigeon River in the east. Notable exceptions are Mount Le Conte, located in the central Smokies, and the high peaks of the Balsam Mountain crest, which intersects the crest of the Smokies at Tricorner Knob. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 213 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Great Smoky Mountains (by Terrill White) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 213 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Great Smoky Mountains (by Terrill White) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Gatlinburg is a city in Sevier County, Tennessee, with a total population of 3,828, as of the 2000 U.S. census. ... The Little Tennessee River is a tributary of the Tennessee River, approximately 135 miles (217 km) long, in the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States. ... The Pigeon drainage basin, located within the upper Tennessee drainage basin The Pigeon River of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee, United States, rises above Canton, North Carolina. ... Mount Le Conte (or LeConte) is a mountain in Sevier County, Tennessee located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. ... Hikers cavorting at the Tricorner Knob Shelter Tricorner Knob is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States. ...

The highest point in the Smokies is Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet or 2,025 m), which is located within the national park. A paved road leads to within 300 vertical feet (90 m) of the summit, and from there visitors can walk a paved trail to the top. A handicap-accessible tower is located at the summit, and on clear days visitors can see five states (Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Kentucky). Clingmans Dome is also the highest point in Tennessee. Clingmans Dome (or Clingmans Dome) is, at an elevation of 6,643 feet (2,025 metres), the highest point both in the state of Tennessee and on the Appalachian Trail. ... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32° 2′ N to 35° 13′ N  - Longitude 78° 32′ W to 83... State nickname: Peach State / Empire of the South Other U.S. States Capital Atlanta Largest city Atlanta Governor Sonny Perdue Official languages English Area 154,077 km² (24th)  - Land 150,132 km²  - Water 3,945 km² (2. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ...

The Smokies rise prominently above the surrounding low terrain. For example, Mount Le Conte (6,593 feet or 2,010 m) rises more than a mile (1.6 km) above its base. Because of their prominence, the Smokies receive heavy annual amounts of precipitation. Annual precipitation amounts range from 50 to 80 inches (130–200 cm)[2], and snowfall in the winter can be heavy, especially on the higher slopes. For comparison, the surrounding terrain has annual precipitation of around 40 to 50 inches (100-130 cm). Mount Le Conte (or LeConte) is a mountain in Sevier County, Tennessee located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. ...

List of major peaks in the Western Smokies

Silers Bald is a mountain in the western Great Smoky Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States. ... Thunderhead Mountain is a mountain in the west-central part of the Great Smoky Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States. ... Gregory Bald is a mountain on the western fringe of the Great Smoky Mountains. ... Shuckstack is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States. ...

List of major peaks in the Central Smokies

Clingmans Dome (or Clingmans Dome) is, at an elevation of 6,643 feet (2,025 metres), the highest point both in the state of Tennessee and on the Appalachian Trail. ... Mount Le Conte (or LeConte) is a mountain in Sevier County, Tennessee located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. ... Jagged, V-shaped ridges comprise the aftermath of the violent billion-year history of the Smokies, looking east from The Jumpoff Looking northeast from The Jumpoff, with Horace Kepharts characteristic blue haze on the left The Jumpoff Trail crossing the summit of Mt. ... The summit of Mount Collins, looking west from Newfound Gap Road Mount Collins is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States. ... Chimney Tops is a mountain in the central Great Smoky Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States. ...

List of major peaks in the Eastern Smokies

The Guyot massif, with Mt. ... Old Black is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States. ... Hikers cavorting at the Tricorner Knob Shelter Tricorner Knob is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States. ... The Appalachian Trail crossing Mt. ... Mount Cammerer is a mountain on the northeastern fringe of the Great Smoky Mountains, in the Southeastern United States. ...

Flora and fauna

Biological diversity is the hallmark of Great Smoky Mountains. Over 10,000 species have been documented; scientists believe an additional 90,000 species may be present[3].

Many wildflowers grow in the mountains and valleys, including bee balm, Solomon's seal, Dutchman's breeches, various trilliums, the Dragon's Advocate and even hardy orchids. For other uses, see Wildflower (disambiguation). ... Species About 16 species, including: Monarda citriodora Monarda clinopodia Monarda didyma Monarda fistulosa Monarda menthifolia Monarda pectinata Monarda punctata Monarda (Bee Balm, Horsemint or Bergamot) is a genus of about 16 species of annual or perennial plants in the Lamiaceae, native to North America. ... Solomons Seal can refer to the following: The symbol also known as the Star of David, or a related legendary object The Polygonatum genus of flowering plants This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Binomial name Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. ... Species See text box. ... Orchid re-directs here; for alternate uses see Orchid (disambiguation) Genera Over 800 See List of Orchidaceae genera. ...

The ecosystem is not as healthy as it could be. Atmospheric pollution may be contributing to increased Red Spruce tree mortality at higher elevations and oak decline at lower elevations, while the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid attacks the hemlocks, and the balsam woolly adelgid attacks the firs. Pseudoscymnus tsugae has been introduced in an attempt to control the pests[4]. Binomial name Picea rubens Sarg. ... Lantana invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel The term invasive species refers to a subset of introduced species or non-indigenous species that are rapidly expanding outside of their native range. ... Hemlock Woolly Adelgid or HWA: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid or HWA is a destructive introduced pest that poses a major threat to eastern and Carolina hemlock trees throughout their range. ... Species Eastern Hemlock Carolina Hemlock Taiwan Hemlock Northern Japanese Hemlock Himalayan Hemlock Forrests Hemlock Western Hemlock Mountain Hemlock Southern Japanese Hemlock Tsuga is a genus of conifers in the family Pinaceae. ... Binomial name Adelges piceae (Ratzeburg, 1844) Balsam woolly adelgids are small wingless insects that infest and kill firs, especially Balsam Fir and Fraser Fir. ... FIR may stand for: finite impulse response (a property of some digital filters) far infrared, i. ...

Other subalpine species more typical of Maine and Canada are found at the highest elevations, above about 5,000 feet (1,500 m) AMSL. Some bird migration actually takes place vertically, with the "local" birds going up and down the mountains rather than north and south. Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... The term above mean sea level (AMSL) refers to the elevation (on the ground) or altitude (in the air) of any object, relative to the average sea level. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of birds. ...

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 longer leaves and blooms white or a light pink in June and July. The orange- to sometimes red-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. Subgenera Azaleastrum Candidastrum Hymenanthes Mumeazalea Pentanthera (Azaleas) Rhododendron Therorhodion Tsutsusi (Azaleas) Vireya Source: RBG, Edinburgh Rhododendron (from the Greek: rhodos, rose, and dendron, tree) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. ... Binomial name Rhododendron catawbiense Michx. ... Binomial name Rhododendron calendulaceum (Michx. ... Binominal name Kalmia latifolia L. Mountain-laurel is the common name of Kalmia latifolia a flowering shrub of the family Ericaceae Found in the eastern USA, this is a poisonous broad-leaved (3-12 cm long, 1-4 cm wide) evergreen shrub, between 3-9 m tall. ...

The reverse is true in autumn, when nearly-bare mountaintops covered in rime ice (frozen fog) can be separated from green valleys by very bright and varied leaf colors. The rhododendrons are broadleafs, whose leaves droop in order to shed wet and heavy snows that come through the region in winter. This article is about the temperate season. ... Rime ice, on top of Szczeliniec Wielki, Poland Rime ice on a tree in Black Forest, Germany Rime ice is a white ice that forms when the water droplets in fog freeze to the outer surfaces of objects. ... Fljótsdalur in East Iceland, a rather flat valley In geology, a valley (also called a vale or dale) is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms or Magnoliophyta) are one of the major groups of modern plants, comprising those that produce seeds in specialized reproductive organs called flowers, where the ovulary or carpel is enclosed. ... For other uses, see Snow (disambiguation). ...

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 191 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 381 pixel, file size: 522 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I took this photo (actually a string of photos)myself. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 191 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 381 pixel, file size: 522 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I took this photo (actually a string of photos)myself. ...

Water

Several rivers rise from streams in the Smokies, including the Pigeon River, Little Pigeon River, Oconaluftee River, Nantahala River. The French Broad River originates in the Blue Ridge Mountains and flows through Asheville, North Carolina, and across the northeastern end of the Smokies. A Norfolk Southern railway line runs along the river as well. The Pigeon drainage basin, located within the upper Tennessee drainage basin The Pigeon River of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee, United States, rises above Canton, North Carolina. ... The Little Pigeon River is a scenic stream of Sevier County in East Tennessee. ... Rafting down Nantahala Falls, a Class III rapid on the Nantahala River, with Nantahala Outdoor Center The Nantahala River is a river in western North Carolina in the United States, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. ... The French Broad River flows from near Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into Tennessee. ... Not to be confused with Ashville. ... Norfolk Southern Corporation (AAR reporting mark NS) NYSE: NSC is a US publicly-traded stock corporation based in Norfolk, Virginia. ...

Flooding can and does occur after heavy rains. In 2004, the remnants of Hurricane Frances caused major flooding, landslides, and high winds, which was soon followed by Hurricane Ivan, making the situation worse. Other post-hurricanes, including Hurricane Hugo in 1989, have caused similar damage in the Smokies. A flood (in Old English flod, a word common to Teutonic languages; compare German Flut, Dutch vloed from the same root as is seen in flow, float) is an overflow of water, an expanse of water submerging land, a deluge. ... This article is about precipitation. ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2004; for other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Frances (disambiguation) Lowest pressure 935 mbar (hPa; 27. ... This article is about geological phenomenon. ... For other uses, see Wind (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2004. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... Lowest pressure 918 mbar (hPa; 27. ...

Culture and tourism

The culture of the area is that of Southern Appalachia, and previously the Cherokee people. Tourism is a huge draw to the area, particularly to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in Tennessee, Cherokee, North Carolina. For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Poverty in Appalachia be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Cherokee (disambiguation). ... Tourist redirects here. ... Pigeon Forge is a city located in Sevier County, Tennessee. ... Gatlinburg is a city located in Sevier County, Tennessee. ... Cherokee is a town in Swain County, North Carolina. ...

Rafting, either leisurely river tubing or in full whitewater, is common all summer. Downhill skiing is also done in winter, though for a short season, at places like Cataloochee and Ober Gatlinburg. Rafting in Brazil. ... Tubing behind a personal watercraft on the Mississippi River. ... Rafting is a recreational activity utilizing a raft to navigate a river or other body of water. ... For other uses, see Summer (disambiguation). ... Alpine skiing (or downhill skiing) is a recreational activity and sport involving sliding down snow-covered hills with long, thin skis attached to each foot. ... For other uses, see Winter (disambiguation). ... Cataloochee is a ski area located in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. ... Ober Gatlinburg is a amusement park and ski area, located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. ...

Country music legend Dolly Parton is from the Smokies, born and raised in Sevierville. She is associated with the Dollywood amusement park. Country music, the first half of Billboards country and western music category, is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. ... Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American, Grammy Award-winning country music singer/songwriter, composer, author, actress, and philanthropist. ... Sevierville is a city located in Sevier County, Tennessee, and is its county seat6. ... Dollywood is a theme park owned by country music singer Dolly Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. ... Theme park redirects here. ...

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park provides a breath-taking view in the fall and has become a popular tourist attraction.

See also

• Appalachian Mountains
• Appalachian Trail
• Elizabethton, Tennessee
• Gatlinburg, Tennessee
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Mount Le Conte
• Roan Mountain, Tennessee
• Sylva, North Carolina
• Wildflowers of the Great Smoky Mountains

The Appalachian Mountains are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. ... The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply The A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. ... Elizabethton is the county seat of Carter County, Tennessee. ... Gatlinburg is a city in Sevier County, Tennessee, with a total population of 3,828, as of the 2000 U.S. census. ... Cades Cove panorama The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. ... Mount Le Conte (or LeConte) is a mountain in Sevier County, Tennessee located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. ... Roan Mountain is a census-designated place located in Carter County, Tennessee. ... Sylva is an incorporated town located in central Jackson County, in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, United States of America. ... More than 1400 species of Wildflowers are native to the Great Smoky Mountains. ...

References

• National Park Service website
• Official Nonprofit Partner Event Calendars
• National Weather Service Southern Appalachian Precipitation study
• Cornell University study on invasive balsam woolly adelgid control

External links

• Smoky Mountains
• History and maps
• Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont