Great Smoky Mountains, a range of the Blue Ridge Mountains, are so named because they are usually covered by a smoky mist or haze. They are among the highest and most rugged mountains in the Appalachian system. They are thickly forested with more than 200 species of trees. The trees help create a dense, humid atmosphere that looks from afar like a smoky mist.
The Great Smokies form the boundary between Tennessee and North Carolina. The highest peak is Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet, or 2,025 meters). Other peaks that are about 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) high include Mount Collins, Mount Le Conte, Mount Kephart, Mount Chapman, Tricorner Knob, Mount Guyot, and Sam Knob.
Hardwood and evergreen forests on the slopes of the Great Smokies supply valuable timber. Minerals include a little gold and copper. Agriculture is limited to a few small mountain valleys and basins. Much of the area was made a national park in 1934.
See also Blue Ridge Mountains ; Clingmans Dome .
