Our Hometown In The Smokies! - Sevierville Chamber of Commerce

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
by Nancy Gray
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and
Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, bisecting the park in
an unbroken chain that rises more than 5,000 feet for over 36 miles. The
largest federally protected upland reserve east of the Mississippi River, the
park encompasses over 800 square miles in the Southern Appalachian
Mountains. Elevations in the park range from 875 to 6,643 feet. This range
in altitude mimics the latitudinal changes experienced by driving north or
south across the eastern United States, say from Georgia to Maine. Plants
and animals common in the southern United States thrive in the lowlands
of the Smokies while species common in the northern states find suitable
habitats at the higher elevations.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt leads dedication ceremonies for
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1940.
The Smoky Mountains are among the oldest in the world, formed perhaps 200 - 300 million years ago. They are unique in their
northeast to southwest orientation, which allowed species to migrate along their slopes during climatic changes such as the last
ice age, 10,000 years ago. In fact, the glaciers of the last ice age affected the Smoky Mountains without invading them. During that
time, glaciers scoured much of North America but did not quite reach as far south as the Smokies. Consequently, these mountains
became a refuge for many species of plants and animals that were disrupted from their northern homes. The Smokies have been
relatively undisturbed by glaciers or ocean inundation for over a million years, allowing species eons to diversify. Almost 95 percent
of the park is forested, and about 25 percent of that area is old-growth forest – one of the largest blocks of deciduous, temperate,
old-growth forest remaining in North America.
In the Smokies, the average annual rainfall varies from approximately 55 inches in the valleys to over 85 inches on some peaks
- more than anywhere else in the country except the Pacific Northwest. During wet years, over eight feet of rain falls in the high
country. The relative humidity in the park during the growing season is about twice that of the Rocky Mountain region.
All these conditions coming together - changes in altitude, moisture, temperature, and northeast-southwest orientation - create a
range of ecosystems that support a tremendous diversity of life. This biological diversity is the hallmark of Great Smoky Mountains
National Park. No other area of equal size in a temperate climate can match the park’s amazing diversity of plants, animals, and
invertebrates. Over 12,000 species have been documented in the park - from the big animals like bears, deer, and elk, down to
microscopic organisms which are still being discovered. Scientists believe an additional 90,000 species may live here.
Some 100 species of native trees find homes in the Smokies, more than in any other North American national park. Over 1,600
additional flowering plant species have been identified in the park. The park is the center of diversity for lungless salamanders.
There are at least 30 different species of salamanders, giving the Smokies the distinction of having the most diverse population
anywhere in the world.
The park is also home to more than 200 species of birds, 66 types of mammals, 39 varieties of reptiles, and 43 species of
amphibians. 2,115 miles of streams in the park protect one of the last wild trout habitats in the eastern United States, Southern
Appalachian brook trout, as well as 50 other native fish species. Mollusks, millipedes, and mushrooms reach record diversity here.
Approximately 1,600 black bears live in the park, which equals a population density of approximately two bears per square mile.
Culturally, the mountains have had a long human history spanning thousands of years - from the prehistoric Paleo Indians to
early European settlement in the 1800s. The Park has an unequalled collection of historic structures, including large two-story
dwellings, log buildings, churches, schoolhouses, barns and working grist mills - 78 historic structures in all, along with preserved
scenes and landscapes characteristic of settler’s lives in the Smokies. In addition, the park contains over 200 cemeteries, from
large fenced areas with hundreds of graves in known marked cemeteries to more remote locations with just a handful of graves or
even just one.
The park is a Mecca for hikers, nature lovers, and sight-seers of all kinds. Hands-on exploration and recreational opportunities
abound in the Smokies for visitors to discover the wonders of this park and to enjoy the scenic splendor. Whether you delight in
the challenge of a strenuous hike to the crest of a mountain or prefer to sit quietly and watch the sun set, Great Smoky Mountains
National Park is the place of activity and relaxation. Auto touring, bicycling, fishing, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, waterfalls,
historic buildings, mountain streams, wildlife viewing, workshops and classes, family-friendly ranger-led programs and other
educational experiences await visitors.
SEVIERVILLE, TN 37