The Blue Ridge Mountains are a spectacular sight, stretching across the eastern United States. The range is estimated to have been created by the uplifting of the Earth's tectonic plates millions of years ago, making the Blue Ridge Mountains the second-oldest mountain range in the world, after South Africa's Barberton Greenstone Belt.
The Blue Ridge Mountains and its iconic Blue Ridge Parkway scenic drive are one of the most popular tourist destinations across the United States. But here are some things you might not have known about this breathtaking mountain range!
10 The Blue Ridge Mountains Are Part Of The Appalachian Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are actually part of the Appalachian Mountains and the Appalachian Trail runs right through this beautiful mountain range. The Blue Ridge Province spans 615 miles through 8 different states: Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.
9 There Are Two National Parks In The Blue Ridge Mountains
Visitors are often surprised to learn that there are two National Parks found within the Blue Ridge Mountains - The Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah. They are found at either end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, with Shenandoah National Park located up in Virginia, whereas the Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee.
8 Home To Some Of The Highest Mountains In Eastern North America
There are over 125 peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains that reach more than 5,000 feet in elevation, and the range is home to many of the highest mountains in eastern North America. Mount Mitchell in North Carolina is the highest in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River. It sits at a whopping 6,684 feet and can only be accessed via the Blue Ridge Parkway. On a clear day, visitors can see as far as 85 miles across the beautiful forested mountains.
7 America's Favorite Drive Is Found In The Blue Ridge Mountains
One of the most popular things to do in the Blue Ridge Mountains is to drive the scenic 469-mile (755 km) Blue Ridge Parkway. It connects Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and is nicknamed 'America's Favorite Drive.' There are scenic pull-outs at every corner, offering stunning mountain vistas and beautiful towns, waterfalls, and hikes to explore along the way; it is the perfect way to explore the beauty of this region.
6 Eastern Continental Divide Follows The Ridge Lines Of The Mountains
The Eastern Continental Divide is a line that divides waterways heading east towards the Atlantic Ocean and those flowing west toward the Gulf of Mexico. It spans from south of Lake Ontario through to the Florida peninsula, and portions of it follow the ridge lines of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors can stop to take photos of the iconic Eastern Continental Divide signs that are found along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
5 There Are 26 Tunnels Along The Blue Ridge Parkway
There are a grand total of 26 tunnels along the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway, 25 of which are found in North Carolina. In fact, 36% of all road tunnels found in national parks across the United States are found along the parkway. The tunnels were constructed to reduce the impact of the road on the landscape.
4 Why So Blue?
The Blue Ridge Mountains get their name from their iconic blue haze. The Cherokee were the first to coin the phrase, referring to the mountains as the Shaconage (shah-CON-ug-gee) or 'the land of the blue smoke. In recent years, scientists discovered that the trees found scattered across the Blue Ridge Mountains produce volatile hydrocarbons, one of which is isoprene. Isoprene is emitted by trees as a way to protect themselves from the stress of excess heat, especially on summer days. Once it is released, it can interact with other molecules, which scatter blue light from the sun, creating a distinctive blueish hazy effect over the mountains.
3 Origin Of The Blue Ridge Parkway
The idea to create the Blue Ridge Parkway was born when President Franklin Roosevelt visited Virginia's first Civilian Conservation Corps camp in 1933 as they built Shenandoah’s Skyline Drive. The then US Senator Harry Byrd suggested that the road should be extended to connect to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Roosevelt was so impressed with the Skyline Drive that he approved the project.
2 Home Of The Largest Protected Habitat For Black Bears In The United States
Many different animals call the Blue Ridge Mountains home, but one of the most sought-after is the American Black Bear. Indeed, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the largest protected habitat for Black Bears in the United States, with an estimated 1,500 black bears found within the National Park. Throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains, visitors may also be lucky enough to spot mammals like elk, whitetail deer, and wild boar, along with many birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates.
1 There Are Striking Gorges, Breathtaking Waterfalls And Cute Mountain Towns
Although most visitors come for scenic mountain vistas, there are so many more beautiful sights to be found in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are charming mountain towns to explore, such as Boone (North Carolina), Blue Ridge (Georgia), and Hendersonville (North Carolina). Hikers will find waterfalls galore, with Amicalola, the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi, not far from Blue Ridge and Linville Falls up in the North Carolina section of the Parkway. Linville Gorge is another spectacular sight in the northern Blue Ridge Mountains, with Tallulah Gorge, known as one of the most spectacular canyons in the US, found in the southern portion of Georgia.