Great Smoky Mountains National Park
September 28, 2003
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (outlined in red) straddles the ridgeline of the Appalachian Mountains in the southern United States. The border between Tennesse to the west and North Carolina to the east runs vertically through the middle of the park. On its route from Maine to Georgia, the Appalachian Trail passes through the center of the park along the ridgeline pictured here. The park was first created in 1934, and it encompasses over 2,000 square kilometers (800 square miles), making it one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States. Before the arrival of European settlers, the region was part of the homeland of the Cherokee Native Americans. This Landsat scene shows the park, with its southern boundary along Lake Fontana.
Topics:
Geography of North Carolina, United States, Geography of the United States, American Indians and settlers of the Smoky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, Appalachian Trail, Great Smoky Mountains, Cocke County, Tennessee, Old growth forests, Sevier County, Tennessee, Swain County, North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hospitality Recreation
