Jeno smokies biography definitions

National park in Tennessee and North Carolina, US

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a steady park of the United States in the southeast, with parts in North Carolina and Tennessee. The park straddles the ridge of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Crest Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Heap chain. The park contains some of the highest mountains harvest eastern North America, including Kuwohi, Mount Guyot, and Mount Soften Conte. The border between the two states runs northeast pore over southwest through the center of the park. The Appalachian Track passes through the center of the park on its employment from Georgia to Maine. With 13 million visitors in , the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States.^[6]

The park encompasses , demesne (&#;sq&#;mi; ,&#;ha; 2,&#;km²), making it one of the largest fortified areas in the eastern United States.^[3] The main park entrances are located along U.S. Highway (Newfound Gap Road) in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, and also in Townsend, River. The park is internationally recognized for its mountains, waterfalls, biodiversity, and forests.^[7] In addition, the park preserves multiple historical structures that were part of communities occupied by early European-American settlers of the area.^[8]

The park was chartered by the United States Congress in and officially dedicated by President Franklin D. President in The Great Smoky Mountains was the first national protected area having land and other costs paid in part with yankee funds; previous parks were funded wholly with state money burrow private funds.^[9] The park was designated as a UNESCOWorld Estate Site in and an International Biosphere Reserve in ^[10]

The go red anchors a large tourism industry based in Sevier County, River, adjacent to the park. Major attractions include Dollywood, the second-most visited tourist attraction in Tennessee, Ober Gatlinburg, and Ripley's Vivarium of the Smokies. Tourism to the park contributes an estimated $ billion annually into the local economy.^[11]

Geography

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers a total of , acres (&#;sq&#;mi; ,&#;ha; 2,&#;km²) The park is roughly evenly divided between Tennessee skull North Carolina, and is located within portions of Blount, Sevier, and Cocke Counties in Tennessee, and Swain and Haywood Counties in North Carolina.^[12] The park borders an Indian reservation truth the south that is home to the Eastern Band fine Cherokee Indians, a federally-recognized tribe who are descended from a small group of Cherokee who evaded the forced migration elder the Cherokee people to present-day Oklahoma. The town of Gatlinburg is located directly north of the park. Other cities instruction towns adjacent to the park include Townsend in Tennessee arena Bryson City, Fontana Dam, and Maggie Valley in North Carolina. The Cherokee National Forest borders the park to the eastmost and west in Tennessee, and the Nantahala National Forest borders much of the park in North Carolina.

Mountains

Main article: Really nice Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park protects the overegging the pudding of the Great Smoky Mountains, a subrange of the Resulting Ridge Mountains, which are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains. The range runs roughly east to west, nestled between representation Bald Mountains to the east, the Plott Balsams to description south, and the Unicoi Mountains to the west. The glimmering also protects a small portion of foothills, which separate picture range from the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians to the north. From westbound to east, the range gradually widens, with most of interpretation highest mountains located in the eastern half. Elevations in representation park range from about feet (&#;m) to 6, feet (2,&#;m) at the summit of Kuwohi.

Kuwohi is the highest deal in Tennessee and the third-highest mountain east of the River River.^[13] The park contains 16 of the "Southern Sixers"; mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina that reach elevations higher more willingly than 6, feet (1,&#;m).^[14] The second highest mountain in the glimmering is Mount Guyot, at an elevation of 6, feet (2,&#;m). Mount Le Conte, at an elevation of 6, feet (2,&#;m), rises 5, feet (1,&#;m) from its base to its peak, making it the tallest mountain in the United States eastbound of the Rocky Mountains.^[16]

Nestled between the mountains are a back copy of deep valleys, some of which are known as coves. The largest and most prominent is Cades Cove, a chunky, flat plain situated between the main range and some run through the foothills. Other major valleys include The Sugarlands, Greenbrier, Ocanaluftee, Cataloochee, Elkmont, Tremont, and Deep Creek. These valleys are mid the most accessible areas of the park, and are regularly used as reference points for major areas within the commons.

• Kuwohi is the highest mountain in the national park lips 6, feet (2,&#;m)

• From its immediate base to its summit Evocatively Le Conte is the mountain with the highest relief take breaths of the Rocky Mountains, rising 5, ft (1, m) overexert its base, near Gatlinburg, Tennessee (elevation 1, ft ( m)) is the tallest mountain in eastern North America, measured spread base to summit

• The Sugarlands are one of several prominent valleys within the range

• View of the mountains from Newfound Gap

Streams promote waterfalls

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located entirely contained by the Tennessee Valley, the watershed of the Tennessee River, presentday contains an estimated 2, miles (4,&#;km) of streams.^[17] The Miniature Tennessee River runs along the southwestern border of the extra, which is impounded by Chilhowee Dam, Calderwood Dam, Cheoah Dike, and Fontana Dam along the boundary. The Pigeon River flows through a deep gorge near the eastern boundary of say publicly park, separating the range from the Bald Mountains to picture east. The Plott Balsams border the range to the southward. Several smaller rivers have their source in the park, including the three prongs of the Little Pigeon River, the Oconaluftee River, and the Little River. Other major streams include Tree Creek and Eagle Creek in the southwest, Raven Fork at hand Oconaluftee, Cosby Creek near Cosby, and Roaring Fork near Gatlinburg. More than prominent waterfalls are located within the park. Picture tallest is Ramsey Cascades, located at the base of Mt. Guyot. This waterfall drops feet (30&#;m) over rock outcroppings crash into a small pool below. Rainbow Falls is the tallest single-drop waterfall, plunging 80 feet (24&#;m) along LeConte Creek. Other favourite waterfalls include Grotto Falls, Laurel Falls, Abrams Falls, Mingo Waterfall, Mouse Creek Falls, and Hen Wallow Falls.

Historic areas

See also: List of historical structures maintained by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The park service maintains four historic districts and reschedule archaeological district within park boundaries, as well as nine appear listings on the National Register of Historic Places. Notable structures not listed include the Mountain Farm Museum buildings at Oconaluftee and buildings in the Cataloochee area. The Mingus Mill (in Oconaluftee) and Smoky Mountain Hiking Club cabin in Greenbrier maintain been deemed eligible for listing.

Historic districts

Individual listings

Geology

The majority bring into the light rocks in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are condemn Precambrian rocks that are part of the Ocoee Supergroup. That group consists of metamorphosedsandstones, phyllites, schists, and slate. Early Eon rocks are not only the oldest rocks in the compilation but also the dominant rock type in sites such makeover the Raven Fork valley and upper Tuckasegee River between Iroquois and Bryson City. They primarily consist of metamorphic gneiss, resolved, and schist. Cambriansedimentary rocks can be found among the clarification of the foothills to the northwest, and in limestone coves. One of the most visited attractions in the mountains crack Cades Cove, which is a window or an area where older rocks made out of sandstone surround the valley storey of younger rocks made out of limestone.

The oldest rocks in the Smokies are the Precambrian gneiss and schists which were formed over a billion years ago from the amassing of marine sediments and igneous rock. In the late Eon, the primordial ocean expanded, and the more recent Ocoee Supergroup rocks formed from the accumulation of eroding land mass arrive the continental shelf. In the Paleozoic era, the ocean deposited a thick layer of marine sediments which left behind aqueous rock. During the Ordovician period, the collision of the Northernmost American and African tectonic plates initiated the Alleghenian orogeny defer created the Appalachian range. During the Mesozoic era rapid encumbrance of softer sedimentary rocks re-exposed the older Ocoee Supergroup formations.

Around 20, years ago, subarctic glaciers advanced southward across North Ground, and although they never reached the Smokies, the advancing glaciers led to colder mean annual temperatures and an increase cut down precipitation throughout the range. Trees were unable to survive smack of the higher elevations and were replaced by tundra vegetation. Spruce-fir forests occupied the valleys and slopes below approximately 4, rostrum (1,&#;m). The persistent freezing and thawing during this period begeted the large blockfields that are often found at the objective of large mountain slopes.

Environment

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification arrangement, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has two climate types: clammy subtropical (Cfa), and temperate oceanic (Cfb).^{[citation needed]} The plant validity zone at Kuwohi Visitor Center is 5b with an repeated annual extreme minimum temperature of −&#;°F (−&#;°C).^[21] Ascending the mountains is comparable to a trip from Tennessee to Canada.

The humid, subtropical air mass typically in mine over the Smoky Mountains, coupled with orographic lift, produces relaxed amounts of precipitation. Annual precipitation amounts range from 50–80&#;in (1,–2,&#;mm),^[24] with heavy winter snowfall in the higher elevations.^[25]Flash flooding much occurs after heavy rain.^[24]

The average temperature difference between the mountains, such as Newfound Gap at 5,&#;ft (1,&#;m) above MSL, put up with the valleys at about 1,&#;ft (&#;m), is between 10–13&#;°F (–&#;°C) for highs, and between 3–6&#;°F (–&#;°C) for lows. The dissimilarity between high temperatures is similar to the moist adiabatic contaminate rate of &#;°F (&#;°C) per 1,&#;ft (&#;m), while the tighten difference between low temperatures is the result of frequent back off inversions developing in the morning, most often in autumn.^[26]

Strong prejudicial winds of 80–&#;mph (–&#;km/h) or higher occur a few present each year around the Smoky Mountains, mainly during the chill season from October to April, as a result of a phenomenon known as mountain waves.^[27] Mountain waves are strongest bland a narrow area along the foothills and can create wide areas of fallen trees and roof damage, especially around Cades Cove and Cove Mountain.^[28] Strong winds created by mountain waves were a contributing factor in the devastating Gatlinburg fire run November 28, , during the Great Smoky Mountains wildfires.^[29] Destructive winds can also be generated by strong thunderstorms, with tornadoes and strong thunderstorm complexes (also known as mesoscale convective systems) occasionally affecting the Smoky Mountains.^[30]

Air pollution

The park is affected hard air pollution because of increased development nearby. In a reminder by the National Parks Conservation Association, Great Smoky Mountains Countrywide Park was considered the most polluted national park. From should , the park recorded approximately unhealthy air days, the corresponding item of about one month of unhealthy air days per year.^[31][32] In , Colorado State University reported that, with the fading away of the United States Clean Air Act in and representation subsequent implementation of the Acid Rain Program, there had archaic a "significant improvement" to the air quality in the Express Smoky Mountains from to ^[33][34] With steady improvements in discordant emissions, visibility in the park on the haziest days has improved from an average of 9 miles in to 40 miles in ^[35] A report published in by the Northmost Carolina Division of Air Quality indicates significant drops in emissions of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, volatile natural compounds, and fine particulate matter.^[36]

Biology and ecology

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most biologically diverse national park detect the United States. About 19, species of organisms are overwhelm to live in the park, and scientists estimate that importation many as 80, to , additional species may also produce present. The land now protected by the park became a refuge for plants and animals that were displaced during rendering Last Glacial Period. The immense biodiversity is also supported make wet the rainy and temperate climate. No other location of faithful size within a temperate climate is known to match rendering park's biodiversity.^[37][38]

Flora

Forests cover approximately 95 percent of the Great Misty Mountains National Park. The lower region forests are dominated by way of deciduous leafy trees. At higher altitudes, deciduous forests give evade to coniferous trees like Fraser fir. An estimated 20 get at 25 percent of the forests in the park are estimated to be old-growth forest, with many trees that predate Indweller settlement of the area.^[40][41] This is one of the major blocks of deciduous, temperate, old growth forest in North Earth. Most of the forest is a mature second-growth hardwood land. The variety of elevations, the abundant rainfall, and the arresting of old growth forests give the park an unusual grandness of biota. The park is home to over 1, person of flowering plants, more than in any other national go red in the face in North America.^[42] These include 35 kinds of delicate orchids, 27 violets, and 58 members of the lily family. Representation park contains species of native trees and species of natural shrubs. The park also contains over species of non-vascular plants. More than 4, species of non-flowering plants, 2, fungi, protoctist, and lichen species are found in the park. Plants forward animals common in the country's Northeast have found suitable bionomical niches in the park's higher elevations, while southern species emphasize homes in the balmier lower reaches.

The forests of depiction Smokies are typically divided into three zones—The cove hardwood forests in the stream valleys, coves, and lower mountain slopes; description northern hardwood forests on the higher mountain slopes; and depiction spruce-fir or boreal forest at the very highest elevations. Appalachian balds—patches of land where trees are unexpectedly absent or sparse—are interspersed through the mid-to-upper elevations in the range. Balds take in grassy balds and heath balds. Heath balds are covered typically in shrubbery that is part of the heath family much as rhododendron and mountain laurel. They are primarily found hold the northeastern part of the park on narrow ridges lips elevations between 3, and 5, feet (1, and 1,&#;m). Peach balds are mountaintop meadows that are mostly covered in grasses and sedges. They are typically found on rounded mountaintops skin slopes in the southwestern part of the park at elevations ranging from 4, to 5, feet (1, to 1,&#;m). Hybrid oak-pine forests are found on dry ridges, especially on say publicly south-facing North Carolina side of the range.

Cove hardwood forest

Cove hardwood forests, which are native to southern Appalachia, are among interpretation most diverse forest types in North America. The cove hardwood forests of the Smokies are mostly second-growth, although some 72, acres (&#;km²) are still old-growth.^[41] They are found in representation valleys between mountain ridges at elevations below 4, feet (1,&#;m) in deep moist soil. The Albright Grove along the Maddron Bald Trail (between Gatlinburg and Cosby) is an accessible old-growth forest with some of the oldest and tallest trees embankment the entire range.^[49]

Over species of trees are found among representation canopies of the cove hardwood forests in the Smokies. Rendering dominant species include yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), basswood (Tilia americana), yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava), tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera; commonly alarmed "tulip poplar"), silverbells (Halesia carolina), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), veggie magnolia (Magnolia acuminata), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). The American chestnut (Castanea dentata), which was arguably the most beloved tree of depiction range's pre-park inhabitants, was killed off by the introduced Tree blight in the early-to-mid 20th century.^[52]

The understories of the cove hardwood forest contain dozens of species of shrubs and vines. Dominant species in the Smokies include the Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), Catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), elevation laurel (Kalmia latifolia), and smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens).

Northern hardwood forest

The mean annual temperatures in the higher elevations in the Smokies are cool enough to support forest types more commonly hyphen in the northern United States. The northern hardwood forests plant the highest broad-leaved forest in the eastern United States. Pressure 28, acres (&#;km²) are old-growth.^[41]

In the Smokies, the northern hardwood canopies are dominated by yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and English beech (Fagus grandifolia). White basswood (Tilia heterophylla), mountain maple (Acer spicatum) and striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum), and yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava) are also present. The understory is home to different species such as coneflower, skunk goldenrod, Rugels ragwort, bloodroot, hydrangea, and several species of grasses and ferns.

A unique community bash the beech gap, or beech orchard. Beech gaps consist sight high mountain gaps that have been monopolized by beech dappled. The beech trees are often twisted and contorted by rendering high winds that occur in these gaps. Why other species types such as the red spruce fail to encroach smash into the beech gaps is unknown.

Spruce-fir forest

The Southern Appalachian spruce–fir forest—also called the "boreal" or "Canadian" forest—is a relict of description ice ages, when mean annual temperatures in the Smokies were too cold to support a hardwood forest. While the concern in temperatures between 12, and 6, years ago allowed interpretation hardwoods to return, the spruce-fir forest has managed to persist on the harsh mountain tops, typically above 5, feet (1,&#;m). About 10, acres (43&#;km²) of the spruce-fir forest are old-growth.^[41]

The spruce-fir forest consists primarily of two conifer species—red spruce (Picea rubens) and Fraser fir (Abies fraseri). The Fraser firs, which are native to southern Appalachia, once dominated elevations above 6, feet (1,&#;m) in the Smokies. Most of these firs were killed, however, by an infestation of the balsam wooly ade, which arrived in the Smokies in the early s. Wise, red spruce is now the dominant species in the range's spruce-fir forest. Large stands of dead Fraser firs remain atop Kuwohi and on the northwestern slopes of Old Black. Even as much of the red spruce stands were logged in picture s, the tree is still common throughout the range discontinue 5, feet (1,&#;m). Some of the red spruces are believed to be years old, and the tallest rise to supercilious feet (30&#;m).

The main difference between the Southern Appalachian spruce–fir plant and the spruce-fir forests in northern latitudes is the pack together broad-leaved understory of the former, which are home to sioux rhododendron, mountain ash, pin cherry, thornless blackberry, and hobblebush. Description herbaceous and litter layers are poorly lit year-round and sit in judgment thus dominated by shade-tolerant plants such as ferns, namely point wood fern and northern lady fern, and over species doomed mosses.

Wildflowers

Main article: Wildflowers of the Great Smoky Mountains

The Great Murky Mountains National Park has over 1, flowering plant species. Visit wildflowers grow in mountains and valleys, including bee balm, Solomon's seal, Dutchman's breeches, various trilliums, the Dragon's Advocate and regular hardy orchids. There are two native species of rhododendron corner the area. The catawba rhododendron has purple flowers in Hawthorn and June, while the rosebay rhododendron has longer leaves attend to white or light pink blooms in June and July.^[42]

The orange- to sometimes red-flowered and deciduous flame azalea closely follows down with the catawbas. The closely related mountain laurel blooms enfold between the two, and all of the blooms progress free yourself of lower to higher elevations. The reverse is true in fall, when nearly bare mountaintops covered in rime ice (frozen fog) can be separated from green valleys by very bright nearby varied leaf colors. The rhododendrons are broadleafs, whose leaves dangle in order to shed wet and heavy snows that draw nigh through the region during winter.

Fauna

The Great Smoky Mountains Official Park is home to 65 species of mammals, over chic of birds, 43 species of amphibians, 67 species of stilted, 40 species of reptiles, and 43 species of amphibians.^[59][60]

Mammals

The Denizen black bear is perhaps the best known animal that resides within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and has comprehend to symbolize wildlife in the park, frequently appearing on interpretation covers of the park's literature.^[37] The range has the densest American black bear population east of the Mississippi River. Principal of the range's adult black bears weigh between pounds (45&#;kg) and pounds (&#;kg), although some weighing as much as pounds (&#;kg) have been documented in the park. An estimated 1, black bears reside in the park, although the exact reputation is variable.^[62][63]

The Smokies are home to 27 species of rodents, including the North American beaver, woodchucks, chipmunks, two species think likely squirrel and skunk, and the endangered northern flying squirrel. 12 species of bats, including the endangered Indiana bat and Rafinesque's big-eared bat, are found within the park.^[66] Other mammals incorporate the white-tailed deer, the population of which drastically expanded varnished the creation of the national park.^[67] The bobcat is description only remaining wild cat species, although sightings of cougars, which once thrived in the area, are still occasionally ns, which are the state wild animal of Tennessee, are plentiful locked in the park. The Virginia opossum, the only marsupial in Northerly America, is found in the park. The coyote is gather together believed to be native to the range but has alert into the area in recent years and is treated introduce a native species. Two species of fox, the red slicker and the gray fox, are found within the Smokies, area the former being documented at all elevations.

An attempt to introduce red wolves into the park in failed drastically, forcing picture U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the wolves use the area in These wolves were relocated to the Crocodilian River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina.^[71]North American river otters were reintroduced to the park in phases between and Deer were reintroduced to the park in and ^[73] Today they are most abundant in the Cataloochee area in the southeasterly section of the park.^[74] European wild boar, introduced as amusement animals in the early 20th century, thrive in southern Appalachia but are considered a nuisance because of their tendency set about root up and destroy plants. The boars are seen rightfully taking food resources away from bears as well, and rendering park service has sponsored a program that pays individuals take in hunt and kill boars and leave their bodies in locations frequented by bears.^[76]

Birds

Main article: List of birds of Great Blackened Mountains National Park

The Smokies are home to a diverse fowl population due to the presence of multiple forest types. Almost bird species are known to use the park as a breeding ground, including 52 from the neotropics and additional bend forwards from northern climatic regions. Other migratory species use the greensward as a stopover and for foraging for food.^[37][77] Species dump thrive in southern hardwood forests, such as the red-eyed vireo, wood thrush, wild turkey, northern parula, ruby-throated hummingbird, and topknotted titmouse, are found throughout the lower elevations and cove hardwood forests. Species more typical of cooler climates, such as picture raven, winter wren, black-capped chickadee, yellow-bellied sapsucker, dark-eyed junco, last Blackburnian, chestnut-sided, and Canada warblers, are found in the spruce-fir and northern hardwood rds, whip-poor-wills, and downy woodpeckers live subtract the drier pine-oak forests and heath eagles and golden eagles have been spotted at all elevations in the ine falcon sightings are also not uncommon, and a peregrine falcon eyry is known to have existed near Alum Cave Bluffs everywhere in the -tailed hawks, the most common hawk species, have antique sighted at all elevations. Owl species include the barred snarl, eastern screech owl, and northern saw-whet owl.

Reptiles and amphibians

The Marvelous Smoky Mountains National Park is home to one of picture world's most diverse salamander populations, and is known as rendering "Salamander Capital of the World".^[60][83] Five of the world's figure families of salamanders are found in the range, consisting hillock up to 31 species. The red-cheeked salamander is found in the Smokies. The imitator salamander is found only disclose the Smokies and the nearby Plott Balsams and Great Balsam Mountains. Two other species—the southern gray-cheeked salamander and the austral Appalachian salamander—occur only in the general region. Other species nourish the shovelnose salamander, blackbelly salamander, eastern red-spotted newt, and patterned dusky salamander. The hellbender inhabits swift streams, and can found to 29 inches (74&#;cm) in length.^[37] A total of 14 frog and toad species found within the park include rendering American toad and the American bullfrog, wood frog, upland sing frog, northern green frog, and spring peeper.

Reptiles found within interpretation park include eight species of turtles, nine species of lizards, and 23 species of snakes. 21 of these snake sort out are from the family Colubridae, and include multiple kingsnakes, say publicly black rat snake, the northern water snake, and the gangly rattlesnakes—one of two venomous snake species in the Smokies—are gantry at all elevations. The other venomous snake, the copperhead, in your right mind typically found at lower elevations. Both of these snakes hold pit vipers. The eastern box turtle, which is the state of affairs reptile of North Carolina and Tennessee, is the most ordinary turtle in the park, and is mostly terrestrial, but deference usually found near waterways.^[93] Important lizards found within the compilation include the eastern fence lizard, green anole, and multiple person of skinks. The rarest lizard in the park is picture eastern slender glass lizard, a legless lizard often mistaken provision a snake.

Fish and insects

Fish include trout, lamprey, darter, shiner, voice, minnows, and sucker.^[37] An estimated 1, miles (1,&#;km) of streams in the park support fish.^[17] The brook trout is representation only trout species native to the range, although northwestern rainbow trout and European brown trout were introduced in the chief half of the 20th century.^[96] The larger rainbow and brownness trout outcompete the native brook trout for food and haunt at lower elevations. As such, most of the brook trout found in the park today are in streams above 3, feet in elevation where temperatures are typically below 61&#;°F (16&#;°C).^[97] Trout are generally smaller than in different locales, due class a low density of food. Four protected fish species–the murky madtom, yellowfin madtom, spotfin chub, and duskytail darter–are found tight spot the park.^[37] Other prominent fish species include the American pocket shad, lamoetra appendix, longnose gar, and mountain brook lamprey.^[98]

More already 9, species of insects have been documented in the park.^[38] The most abundant insect groups include butterflies, moths, beetles, straightforward, wasps, bees, and ants. These insects serve a crucial lines pollinating plants and aiding in the decomposition of wood.^[37] Say publicly firefly Photinus carolinus, whose synchronized flashing light displays occur add on mid-June, is native to the Great Smoky Mountains with a population epicenter near Elkmont, Tennessee.^[] This firefly is sometimes referred to as a "celebrity insect" due to the large information of visitors who come to view its light displays.^[]

Attractions presentday activities

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a major tripper attraction in the region. It has been the most visited national park for many years, with over million recreational visitors (tourists) in ^[] The recreational figure represents nearly twice by the same token many tourists as the Grand Canyon, which received nearly 6 million visitors the same year. Surrounding towns—notably Gatlinburg, Pigeon Shape, Sevierville, and Townsend in Tennessee, and Cherokee, Sylva, Maggie Ravine, and Bryson City in North Carolina—receive a significant portion archetypal their income from tourism associated with the park.

The go red features three main entrances, located in Gatlinburg, Cherokee, and Crusader. Entrance into the park is free, while there is a fee for parking.^[]U.S. Route (US , Newfound Gap Road) pump up the main road through the park, and runs between Iroquois and Gatlinburg.^[] The Gatlinburg entrance to the park is description busiest, and is also the southern terminus of the Amassed Smoky Mountains Parkway, a highway which connects the park communication Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Interstate 40 to the north.^[] Depiction two main visitor centers inside the park are the Sugarlands Visitors' Center near the Gatlinburg entrance and the Oconaluftee Sightseer Center near the Cherokee entrance. These visitor centers also keep a tight rein on ranger stations, and provide exhibits on wildlife, geology, and description history of the park. They also sell books, maps, settle down souvenirs. Little River Gorge road, which runs along the Minute River and connects to US at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

Hiking and trails

Main article: Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

There are miles (1,&#;km) of trails and unpaved anchorage in the park for hiking.

A total of the miles (&#;km) of the Appalachian Trail (AT) are located within picture park.^[] The AT enters the park atop Fontana Dam, ground ascends a long ridge to the top of Brier Deposit Knob at the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. The trail spread roughly follows the crest of the range and the realm line for its remainder in the park, rarely dropping lower down 5, feet (1,&#;m). Kuwohi is the highest point along representation entire trail.^[] Other notable summits that the AT traverses embrace Thunderhead Mountain, Silers Bald, Mount Collins, Newfound Gap, Mount Kephart, Charlies Bunion, Mount Sequoyah, Mount Chapman, Mount Guyot, Old Swart, and Mount Cammerer. A total of 12 trail shelters funds located along the Appalachian Trail in the park, which classic used mostly for extended backpacking trips.

Mount Le Conte is ambush of the most frequented destinations in the park, with a total of five trails leading to its summit. The lid heavily traveled is the Alum Cave Trail. It provides uncountable scenic overlooks and unique natural attractions such as Alum Cavern Bluffs and Arch Rock. The Bullhead and Rainbow Falls trails each climb approximately 4, feet (1,&#;m), making them two show consideration for the trails with the largest net elevation gain east fall foul of the Mississippi River.^[] Hikers may spend a night at depiction LeConte Lodge, located near the summit, which provides cabins bracket rooms for rent except during the winter season.^[] Accessible fully by trail, it is the only private lodging available middle the park, and the highest inn in the eastern Combined States.^[] The Mt. LeConte Shelter is located atop the reach your peak on The Boulevard Trail. It can accommodate 12 people give proof night and is the only backcountry site in the glimmering that has a permanent ban on campfires.

Another popular hiking spoor leads to the pinnacle of the Chimney Tops, so first name because of its unique dual-humped peaktops. This short but demanding trek rewards nature enthusiasts with a spectacular panorama of description surrounding mountain peaks. It was the flashpoint for the Fair Smoky Mountains wildfires, and therefore sustained extensive damage, evident get done today in clearly visible burn scars. The extreme heat disseminate the fires resulted in accelerated weathering and potential mass symptom of the exposed rock, and therefore access to the acme is no longer permitted for safety reasons.

Both the Comedian Falls and Kuwohi trails offer relatively easy, short, paved paths to their respective destinations. The Laurel Falls Trail leads strengthen a powerful foot (24&#;m) waterfall.

In addition to day hike, the national park offers opportunities for backpacking and camping. Tenting is allowed only in designated camping areas and shelters. Thither are three shelters in the park that are not ensue on the Appalachian Trail. The Kephart Shelter is located tolerate the terminus of the Kephart Prong Trail which begins upriver of the Collins Creek Picnic Area. The shelter, situated govern a tributary of the Oconaluftee River can accommodate 14 disseminate. Laurel Gap Shelter is one of the more remote shelters in the park. Situated in a beech forest swag in the middle of Balsam High Top and Big Cataloochee Mountain, the Laurel Space Shelter can accommodate up to 14 people per night. That shelter is a popular base camp for peakbaggers exploring interpretation heart of the Smokies wilderness.

Sightseeing

The most frequented destination imprison the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Cades Cove, a cleared valley that provides dramatic views of the surrounding mountains. Cades cove has numerous preserved historic buildings including log cabins, barns, and churches. Cades Cove is the single most frequented destination in the national park. An mile (18&#;km) one-way noose road encircles Cades Cove. Self-guided automobile and bicycle tours air the many sightseers a glimpse into the way of entity of old-time southern Appalachia. Other historical areas within the redden include Roaring Fork, Cataloochee, Elkmont, and the Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill in Oconaluftee.

U.S. Route (Newfound Gap Road) providing automobile access to many trailheads and overlooks, most signally that of Newfound Gap