The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a preserved area in Tennessee and North Carolina, with 10,000 species of plants and animals. It is the most visited national park in the US, with tourist attractions including two visitor centers and historic log cabins. However, it is also the most polluted national park due to nearby cities and vehicle use. The National Park Service aims to use only electric vehicles for official business.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a preserved section of land in the United States designed to provide posterity with a natural environment maintained in a similar condition as it was before American modernization. Specifically, it is found in the Blue Ridge Mountains section of the Appalachian mountain range in Tennessee and North Carolina. Due to its location and pristine beauty, it is the most visited national park in the country, according to the National Park Service. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park covers an area of 814 square miles (2,108 square km).
Historically, the region was occupied by Cherokee Indians prior to the European influx. In the 1700s and 1800s, white settlers entered the area as Native Americans were removed to the west. The region remained largely untouched until the 1900s when clear-cutting for timber began to take place. The National Park Service was authorized to build a park in 1926, evicting residents and raising funds to establish rangers and facilities in the area. President Franklin Roosevelt and Congress authorized the park in 1934 and used the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration to build infrastructure in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
About 10,000 species of plants and animals thrive in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Among them are 200 bird species, 66 types of mammals, and numerous fish and reptiles. Some of the most notable indigenous species are the lungless salamander, moose and black bear. There are also 100 different types of conifers and deciduous trees in the mountains and over 1,400 flowers.
Along with a vast forest and mountain landscape, there are a number of tourist attractions that bring people to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Two visitor centers welcome tourists at the entrances and act as ranger stations. The most famous lookout point is Newfound Gap, located at an elevation of 5,048 feet (1,539 m). Historic attractions include many log cabins and barns dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Due to its proximity to the densely populated East Coast, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is labeled the most polluted national park in the United States. The National Park Conservation Association added it to its list of polluted parks in 2004, mainly due to air quality. There is very little that can be done to improve general air conditions, since the park itself is not the culprit for producing pollution. Rather, air quality is harmed by nearby cities and extensive vehicle use. In response, the National Park Service has a goal of using only electric vehicles in the park for official business.
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