

Most visitors only see the outside of the park – from the trailhead to Look Rock to Cades Cove – but exploring its many historic sites can reveal a great deal about the people that lived here long before they made their mark on this beautiful land.Ĭades Cove is a valley in Townsend that preserves the story of the mountains.

Since prehistoric times, humans have occupied and adapted to the climate and environment in the mountains. Places became more accessible in the 20th century when loggers began harvesting timber. Many of the coves and valleys were isolated and inaccessible. Today a mixture of northern and southern animal and plant life are found. They were found only at the heights where cool moist conditions remained. When the glaciers receded, so did the forests. With the cold, plants and animals from the north also made their way into the region. Thousands of years ago, glaciers advanced south and cooled the climate in the region. These plants give off volatile organic compounds that create a vapor and a bluish tinge when the gas molecules scatter blue light. The millions of plants inhabiting the mountain range make the fog. The name comes from the natural blue mist or fog which sits atop the mountain range. They include 25 peaks, all above 6,000 feet.

They are one of the oldest mountains on the planet, stretching more than 650 miles from central North Carolina to central Tennessee. The Great Smoky Mountains is one of America's crown jewels, with a history stretching back centuries. The Smoky Mountains are also home to numerous towns - from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, North Carolina, to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of America's most visited parks, with millions of visitors and more than 3 million acres of wilderness to explore each year. It is a popular destination for hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, fishing, and camping.

It is 5,22,000 acres and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The National Park was established on June 15, 1934. Smoky Mountains National Park protects 83% of The Great Smoky Mountain Range and is part of the Appalachian Mountain range. The Smoky Mountains are a series of high, rugged peaks in the Southeastern United States, forming the border between Tennessee and North Carolina.
