Great Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains are a massive mountain range in the southeastern United States.

They sit along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. This range is a subrange of the larger Appalachian Mountains. It is also part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. Most of the range is protected within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This park was established in 1934 to preserve the area. Today, it is the most visited national park in the United States.

More than 11 million people visit the park every year. The range is also part of an International Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The name "Smoky" comes from a unique natural phenomenon. A constant fog often hangs over the mountain peaks. This fog looks like large plumes of smoke when seen from a distance. The fog is caused by vegetation emitting volatile organic compounds. These are chemicals that have a high vapor pressure. They easily turn into vapors at normal temperature and pressure. This process creates the distinctive atmosphere for which the mountains are famous.

The geology of the Smokies involves a very long history. Most of the rocks belong to the Ocoee Supergroup. These are Late Precambrian rocks made of sandstone, phyllite, schist, and slate. Some of the oldest rocks are in the Raven Fork Valley. These include metamorphic gneiss and granite. These ancient rocks formed over a billion years ago. They began as marine sediments in a primordial ocean. Later, the North American and African plates collided. This collision caused the Alleghenian orogeny. This was the mountain-building epoch that created the Appalachian range.

Climate and weather patterns also shape the landscape. The mountains rise high above the surrounding low terrain. For example, Mount Le Conte rises more than 1.6 kilometers above its base. Because of this height, the Smokies receive heavy annual precipitation. Annual amounts range from 1,100 to 1,800 millimeters. Snowfall can be very heavy on the higher slopes during winter. The mountains can also experience dangerous weather. Strong winds called mountain waves occur during the cool season. These winds can cause significant damage to trees and buildings.

The range contains many distinct forest zones. The lowest elevations feature cove hardwood forests. These are located in stream valleys and coves. They are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America. The higher mountain slopes host northern hardwood forests. At the highest elevations, you will find the Southern Appalachian spruce–fir forest. This is the largest forest of its kind. The Smokies also contain old-growth forests. These represent the largest such stand east of the Mississippi River.

Wildlife thrives in these diverse environments. The Smokies host the densest black bear population in the Eastern United States.

You might also see elk in the area.

The range is famous for its many amphibians. It has the most diverse salamander population outside of the tropics.

There are also many species of fish, such as the native brook trout.

This biological diversity is a key reason for the park's protected status.

Human history is also visible throughout the mountains. Many small Appalachian communities once lived in the river valleys. The National Park Service maintains 78 historic structures from these communities. These buildings are part of five historic districts. Some are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The mountains also feature unique landforms called Appalachian balds. These are patches where trees are sparse or absent. Some are grassy meadows, while others are thickets of rhododendron.

These features show how both nature and people have shaped the Smokies over time.