How Big Are the Smokey Mountains?

The Smokies are among the tallest mountains in the Appalachian range.

Approximately 200 to 300 million years ago, the world's continents collided and formed the Appalachian Mountains, a ridge of faulted and folded rock that extends from what is now Maine to Georgia. Although the Smoky Mountains are a small portion of the Appalachians, they are among the tallest mountains in the chain.

Location

The crest of the Smoky Mountains divides North Carolina and Tennessee. The gently contoured range is an unbroken chain that, according to the National Park Service, runs from northeast to southwest over 36 miles. Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses over 800 square miles in this area of the Southern Appalachians.

Elevations

According to the National Park Service, Smoky Mountain elevations within the park range from 876 feet to 6,643 feet with 16 peaks rising more than 5,000 feet. Clingmans Dome, the highest point, is the third highest peak in the Appalachian Mountain range.

Diversity

Variations in elevation, and the differences in temperature, rainfall and geology associated with such variations, contribute to the great diversity of the Smoky Mountains. According to the National Park Service, the range in altitude mimics the latitudinal changes one would encounter driving from Georgia to Maine. Consequently, the Smoky Mountains are home to a large variety of plant and animal species.

References

• National Park Service: Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Natural Features & Ecosystems
• National Park Service: Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Nature & Science
• The New York Times: Introduction to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Resources

• Interior Department, National Park Service: Great Smoky Mountains