The smoke that forms over the Great Smoky Mountains is actually created by plants
The name “Smoky” comes from the fog that forms over the mountain range. The fog is caused by the mountain vegetation as the plants emit volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. A fog begins to form due to the high volume of flora and fauna releasing a high concentration of these compounds. Unlike oxygen, these compounds have a high vapor pressure and easily form vapors at normal temperature and pressure which is why we can see it.
The Great Smoky Mountains are known as the “Salamander Capital of the World”
The Great Smoky Mountains are known as the “Salamander Capital of the World.” The majority of vertebrate (backboned) animals, including humans, in the park on any given day are salamanders. Be on the look out for salamanders such as the marbled or spotted salamander.
There are about two bears per square mile in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Black bears live at all elevations of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are an estimated 2,000 black bears at Great Smoky National Park—about two bears per square mile.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has the most wildflowers of any other North American national park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 1,500 kinds of flowering plants more than in any other North American national park. Mountain laurel, rhododendron and flame azaleas are favorites to spot.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited of the 59 national parks in the United States
The highest guest lodge in the eastern United States is only accessible on foot via hiking trails
LeConte Lodge is accessible only by foot via 5 to 8 mile hiking trails. The primitive lodge is atop Mount Le Conte, and is generally open from Spring to Fall. Reservations book fast but last minute cancellations are posted on Twitter.
Learn more at https://www.lecontelodge.com
Forming 200-300 million years ago, the Great Smoky Mountains are one of America’s oldest mountain ranges—once part of the Scottish Highlands and Irish mountains
As part of the Appalachian mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains, or the Smokies, are one of America’s oldest mountain ranges forming approximately 200-300 million years ago. The Smokies run along the border of Tennesee and North Carolina in the Southeastern United States.
