Why Are They Called the Smoky Mountains?

The Smoky Mountains are on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. Designated a national park in 1940, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States, as of September 2010.

Origin

The Cherokee Indians called the mountains the "Land of the Blue Smoke" because of the smoky fog that is always draped over the mountains. Today, we refer to the mountains as the Smoky Mountains.

Weather

The Smoky Mountains are very humid and wet and evaporation is the source of the foggy mist that surrounds the mountains. Yearly, an average of 85 inches of rain falls in the higher elevations of the Smoky Mountains and around 55 inches in the valleys.

Biological Diversity

The abundance of water allows the Smoky Mountains to support over 1,500 flowering plant species and 100 species of trees. According to the National Park Service, over 200 varieties of birds, 50 fish species, 43 types of amphibians, 39 reptile species and 66 different kinds of mammals reside in the mountains.

References

• National Park Service: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• National Park Services: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Stories
• Cherokee North Carolina Chamber of Commerce: Home
• National Park Services: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Nature & Science

Resources

• National Park Service: Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Things to Know Before You Come
• Cherokee North Carolina Chamber of Commerce: History and Culture