Home Add to Favorite Contact Submit  
             29 March, 2024
 

    
Category:  Articles » Reference & Education » Environmental

 

Getting away from it all in the Great Smoky Mountains

Popularity:
         Views: 1974
2006-12-06 02:12:32     
Article by stephenmorgan

“They die hard, those old ways, in the mountains; some of them were good ways”
- Horace Kephart
Great Smoky National Park is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the United States and is also one of the most biologically diverse environments on Earth.

These are pretty bold statements to make but are actually born out by fact and also by detailed inspection.

The Cherokee, the original inhabitants and custodians of the land called this territory “Shaconage” (Shah-con-ah-jey) meaning in rough translation “land of the blue smoke”. Later inhabitants and settlers came from Scots-Irish backgrounds soon to be joined by those of French and German background. This mix of various Western European settler characteristics you can be assured gave a very interesting (if not as one settler described, “a Heady brew”) mix of inhabitants.

The Smoky Mountains are arguably some of the oldest in the World and detailed inspection of tectonic history will show that what we see now is a vast difference from what was originally in place and also a vast difference in location as well. The history of the Smoky Mountains is such that such is it’s history and bio diverse ecology that it has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site.

The Great Smoky National Park was authorised by the US Congress in 1926 and was created from land in both North Carolina and the state of Tennessee. Unlike other American National Parks which were formed from existing Government land, the land that formed the Great Smoky Mountains National Park actually was comprised of land that belonged to Private Individuals or Companies.

The Mountainsides and Forest were a goldmine for Logging Companies who raped and pillaged their way across the landscape until it was calculated that approximately 65 percent of the available forest had been logged. The knock on effect of this was that the farms and the farmland that was created by this deforestation existed primarily to support and feed the loggers.

The other hidden and not so hidden consequence of logging was the destruction of the natural habitat for the resident wildlife and the absence of tress and any forest cover induced widespread erosion which in turn clogged streams with sediment and reduced the opportunity of the land to replenish itself.

The bottom line in all of this is that without the support of wealthy individuals and benefactors such as John D Rockefeller Jr who contributed nearly $5 million towards the purchase of the land, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park would not have become a reality. Other notable supporters and “influencers / fans” included the Historian Horace Kephart who came up with the initial idea of preserving the Smokies as a National park after visiting the area for his health.

After much haggling back and fore, the Federal Government finally obtained the land and proclaimed a national park on June 15th 1934. The Park comprises some 520.197 acres of land roughly split along the 70 miles of the eastern Tennessee – western North Carolina Border.

The apparent success of the present day park does not accurately reflect the history and the struggle that earlier Park Superintendents had to wage with what was in effect land that had been ravaged by uncontrolled logging and mineral exploitation and land that had become a hostile environment for a great number of the so called native species.

The outstanding success of the Park Service in re introducing Elk, Peregrine Falcons and river otters has helped restore the parklands to a state almost bordering on the primeval.

This is not to give the impression that the battle is completely won and that the Park doesn’t still suffer from and face daunting challenges from the effect of life in the 21st Century. Air Pollution, Traffic Congestion and the continued destruction of what are called high-elevation forests by persistent pests mans that the Park service has to be ever vigilant.

Specialized in: Smoky Mountain Cabins Online - Cabin - Smokey Mountains - Great - Recreation - Tennessee - Gatlinburg - Pigeon Forge - Sevier County
URL: http://www.smokymountaincabinsonline.us
Print article      Bookmark this page
Related Articles 
Switching Providers to Obtain Lower Houston Electricity Rates (Popularity: ): Because prices for Houston electricity have become competitive, many business owners and homeowners can save on their energy bills every month. The local electric company will still be delivering electricity to businesses and homes. However, Houston residents and business owners can select another company that offers lower rates to generate their electricity.Comparing RatesTo evaluate Houston electricity properly, simply compare the rates from different suppliers in a competitive market. There are ...
Ecological habitat survey benefits a Business (Popularity: ): If you are planning to buy a piece of land or a property, develop a building or construction at a site near pond or an area near country wildlife site, then getting ecological survey done in prior can save you a huge money. Due to Biodiversity and strict wildlife legislation it has become mandatory for any development to not disturb the lawfully protected wildlife habitats. To hire an experienced ecology ...
Climate Change and Global Warming Versus Global Cooling (Popularity: ): There is some global warming from vast amounts of anthropogenic or man made pollution. The industrial age brought about a lot of negative changes in the environment that are indisputable. Hot gasses entering the atmosphere for over a 100 years has caused a limited amount of climate change. Global cooling is a thorn in the side of those who want to pass Cap and Trade legislation.Sounds like I am totally in ...
Alternative Fuel Solutions For the Future (Popularity: ): Alternative fuels are those fuels that are made without oil products. They are manufactured using products such as corn, vegetable oil, and also garbage. The expansion of the alternative fuel business has its advantages as alternative fuels have less of an impact on the environment and the fuel burns cleaner.People are starting to take notice of the issue of global warming, and it is sparking their interest in alternative fuels ...
Save the Enviroment - Buy a Real Christmas Tree (Popularity: ): When purchasing a Christmas tree, the most environmentally favorable choice is a real Christmas tree. The ecological advantages of a real Christmas tree over an artificial Christmas tree are numerous.Production of oxygen Each acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen requirement of 18 people. With over 500,000 acres of Christmas trees in the United States, that translates into nine million people a day supplied with oxygen from these trees.Of equal ...


Related Business 
Alewine Pottery (Popularity: ): Creating handcrafted pottery for 25 years in the Smoky Mountains. Located in the Arts and Crafts Community in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Smoky Mountain Canoeing (Popularity: ): Offers guided canoe trips on the French Broad River that flows in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.
Smoky Mountain Meadows Campground (Popularity: ): Located in Bryson City area. Creekside sites for no additional charge, day trips into the Great Smoky Mountains as well as other attractions. Open April through October.
Smoky Mountain Outdoors (Popularity: ): Offering whitewater adventures in eastern Tennessee on the Big Pigeon River near Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains.
The Pigeon Forge Chamber Of Commerce (Popularity: ): The Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce is proud to unveil our brand-new website where you’ll find all the resources you need to plan your best vacation ever in the Great Smoky Mountains! Our new comprehensive website combines expanded regional coverage and easy navigation to provide interesting, helpful and accurate information on all the incredible experiences that await you in our beautiful and diverse destination. We invite you to take time ...
The Sleep Inn Hotel In Bryson City (Popularity: ): The Sleep Inn® hotel is nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, conveniently located one mile from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. This Bryson City, NC hotel is minutes from popular attractions like the Cherokee Indian Reservation, Harrah's Cherokee Casino, Southwestern Community College, Western Carolina University, Nantahala River and Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, America's number one motorcycle and sports car road.
Cabin Rentals Gatlinburg (Popularity: ): Let our vacation planners help you choose one of the Gatlinburg cabins or Smoky Mountain cabins with all the amenities that fit your needs. We have a variety of log cabins and chalets in locations near both Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ (Popularity: ): Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Burton, Larry (Popularity: ): Watercolor paintings and prints of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cades Cove.
Claiborne, Heath (Popularity: ): Featuring original art work, limited edition giclee's of the Great Smoky Mountains and Tennessee sites.