Great Smoky Mountains NP |
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited U.S. national park and one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States, straddling the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina. On its route from Maine to Georgia, the Appalachian Trail also passes through the center of the park. Before the arrival of European settlers, the region was part of the homeland of the Cherokee Indians. The park has more annual rainfall than anywhere in the United States outside the Pacific Northwest and parts of Alaska. It is almost 95 percent forested and is one of the largest blocks of deciduous, temperate, old growth forest in North America. Approximately 10,000 species of plants and animals are known to live in the park, and an additional 90,000 undocumented species may also be present. The park also has a noteworthy black bear population, numbering at least 1,800. An experimental re-introduction of elk into the park began in 2001. The park has a number of historical attractions, the most well-preserved of these is Cades Cove, a valley with a number of preserved historic buildings including log cabins, barns, and churches. The park was dedicated by President Roosevelt in 1940, was designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976, and was certified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Current Internet Travel Offers for Great Smoky Mtns NP...
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