The Great Smoky Mountains, United States - The America's Most Visited National Park

Great Smoky Mountains are one of america’s oldest mountain ranges. The range is sometimes called the Smoky Mountains and most commonly known as Smokies. Smoky Mountains are actually a mountain range rising along the Tennessee–North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. This mountain range is mostly popular for its diversity of plant, animal life and the beauty of its ancient mountains. Smoky Mountains are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. The Great Smokies are part of an International Biosphere Reserve (It is an intergovernmental scientific programme, launched in 1971 by UNESCO, that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments).

The Great Smokies are best known as the home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which protects most of the range. Great Smoky Mountains national park is the America's most visited national park. This national park was established in 1934. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain.

The National Park touches more than 9 million visits per year. It encompasses 522,419 acres making it one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States. Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers spectacular displays of wildflowers, abundant wildlife and myriad activities to enjoy. There are 850 miles of trails and unpaved roads in the park for hiking, including seventy miles of the Appalachian Trail. Mount Le Conte is one of the most frequented destinations in the park. Its elevation is 6,593 feet. It is the third highest summit in the park.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, River Scenic View

The U.S. National Park Service preserves and maintains nearly 80 historic structures within the national park that were once part of the numerous small Appalachian communities scattered throughout the range's river valleys and coves. There are many waterfalls throughout the park, with larger falls like Grotto, Laurel, Abrams, Rainbow and mingo etc. The Laurel Falls Trail leads to a powerful 80-foot waterfall. The national park offers opportunities for backpacking and camping. Camping is allowed only in designated camping areas and shelters.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Laurel Falls

There are sources of several rivers are located in the Smokies, including the Little Pigeon River, the Oconaluftee River, and Little River. The largest stream wholly within the park is Abrams Creek, which rises in Cades Cove and empties into the Chilhowee Lake impoundment of the Little Tennessee River near Chilhowee Dam.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a major tourist attraction in the region. The park has a number of historical attractions. The most well-preserved of these is Cades Cove, a valley with a number of preserved historic buildings including log cabins, barns, and churches. Cades Cove is the single most frequented destination in the national park. There are over 11.3 million recreational visitors and an additional 11 million non-recreational visitors traveled to the park in 2016. It is about nearly twice as many tourists as the Grand Canyon, which received nearly 6 million visitors the same year. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is truly a great place to visit which offers you so many unique experiences.