Foundation Document Overview, Great Smoky Mountains National
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Description NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in The park is situated within a day’s drive of more than half the the Southern Appalachian Mountains and straddles the population of the United States, and more than 9 million visitors border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The park come to the park annually to enjoy its resources. They come encompasses more than 800 square miles and is dominated from local communities, the region, the nation, and from across Foundation Document Overview by ancient mountains, with elevations ranging from 850 the world, making the park one of the most visited national parks feet to 6,643 feet at Clingmans Dome. The park is world- in the country. Hence, the park contributes to the economic Great Smoky Mountains National Park renowned for the diversity of its plant and animal life, vitality of the surrounding communities and the region. beautiful scenery, and the size and integrity of the wilderness North Carolina and Tennessee sanctuary within its boundaries. More than 19,000 species Throughout time, many people have maintained close have been documented in the park. No other area of equal connections to the Great Smoky Mountains. Private citizens, size in a temperate climate can match the park’s diversity civic groups, and even school children, worked tirelessly to raise of plants, animals, and invertebrates. This is evident in funds for land acquisition and establishment of the park. This the park’s status as the core unit of one of America’s few grassroots dedication continues today—the park benefits from International Biosphere Reserves (1988) and its designation one of the largest volunteer cadres in the national park system. as a World Heritage Site (1983). The park also preserves Volunteers and partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit one of the largest collections of historic Appalachian log groups for education, scientific research, and stewardship of structures, and maintains more than 800 miles of trails, park resources are integral to achieving the purpose of Great including a section of the Appalachian Trail. Smoky Mountains National Park. To Knoxville To Knoxville To Newport SEVIERVILLE y 321 a w Exit Litt rk 129 le a 443 CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST 411 441 32 P Pig eon R ls McGhee Tyson iv il er h Airport Cosby ot L it o n t F le o e R ig iv P e 416 r W ALCOA Facility Closures es t R P PIGEON FORGE iv TENNES Roads, campgrounds, trails, backcountry campsites r e SEE o r Exit 451 n and shelters, and other park facilities may be closed g 32 NORT L H CA as environmental conditions or operational capabilities itt C ROLINA 441 le o P s ig b change. For current information, check the park e Pittman y Mount o MARYVILLE n website www.nps.gov/grsm. Center Cosby Cammerer 73 321 C Big Creek R 321 r i e 321 v e 40 e k 321 r Gatlinburg Welcome Center National Park Information Center k e e Big r Walland TN C M 129 E V 411 O Greenbrier ay Wear Valley C w Little rk Mount a Greenbrier Sugarlands Sterling To Chattanooga P GATLINBURG School Visitor Center M Mount Guyot Waterville 321 iddle s Park Headquarters Prong Lake l l i h B t Townsend A o Visitors Center L S o Roaring Fork A ek F re d M C a Motor Nature Trail o W 73 R (closed in winter) e er l M e Townsend iv s hia i R t ac n e Little l O a a h P U p r c SU r p T N o d GA o a Great Smoky n A T o PISGAH N R R Mount l I I o L g A a C R Mountains A A ) H Elkmont L N I t r Le Conte T it N NATIONAL e tl D a N t M Institute at e n L 6593ft Cataloochee C U i ittl FOREST Look Rock in d i Tremont e igeo O w d R P n R 2009m a a d i i M t o v ve l e r n n R i e M u r Charlies O C U o k P o d M N e r T Bunion d v M e T o A e s e IN Chimney R N r n C o l C g Tops re h c n e ( l c t L k k i e r it r R R u t M E a le o d E F L R W iver r) e Newfound Gap 5046ft m O t a H Abrams Creek n s Exit 20 L i 1538m l I B a w n H r B C e n a i v r CADES COVE d C Cable Mill a d l e N O e R s c e y o w o s l n Appalachian ram c f a Ab GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS ( o l un p Road u Cades Cove d Ga f Highlands t e Fo Science Visitor Center e rk He ( 276 i c Learning Spence n l R t o Center Field o Clingmans Dome i s Thunderhead ve o e r Smokemont g d Silers Visitor Center a Mountain Balsam Mountain i Clingmans d n Chilhowee Bald a o R R i Dome d e w ad v g o 6643ft i n R o e k 2024m C t h NATIONAL PARK c e n r) e Andrews Bald R a te e ig r r ) n r B o B i E A C Black Camp Gap w E a n S N idge o in S I R d rs E L P a d Gregory N O a Maggie Dellwood P se EN R le e rk lo Bald T A g Mingus Mill lu w (c C B ay Valley Ea TH k OR e 129 N e 19 r Oconaluftee To Asheville C k e k Visitor Center e e e r r C p Mountain Farm Museum C e High Rocks e k Soco Gap e d D e Cr n 441 CHEROKEE INDIAN RESERVATION a l y o Deep Creek Shuckstack (QUALLA BOUNDARY) Calderwood e N l n Cherokee Lake e r CHEROKEE z a o Deals Gap H F o NATIONAL Fontana Soc Creek WAYNESVILLE 19 Waterrock Knob FOREST Twentymile Dam Lak e Cheoah S E A AM E N 441 LS S LI A S B E O BRYSON N R N A CITY E C Fon tana T La T H ke T T FONTANA 28 R 74 O O VILLAGE L T P N u c B k l a u JOYCE A se e KILMER - SLICKROCK p g e p e R WILDERNESS AREA 23 id a g l 74 e a c A Parkw h L ay A i R a K R n A iv SYLVA er Ranger station M Dillsboro O U N T Developed Santeetlah Stecoah Gap A NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST I Lake N campground T North S 441 Roads in park are closed 143 r ay a to commercial vehicles. Picnic area yw i Sk l 19 Wesser 23 hala 74 ero ROBBINSVILLE Ch Unpaved road Self-guiding trail r Contact Information Cheoah Bald e 28 iv 143 R One-way road Horseback riding Little (rental) 129 la 0 1 5 Kilometers a Tennessee h For more information about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Foundation Document, River ta Historic structure(s) Observation tower n To Atlanta a 0 1 5 Miles N contact: [email protected] or (865) 436-1200 or write to: Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 Cover photo © Bob Carr. Used by permission. Purpose Significance Fundamental Resources and Values Significance statements express why Great Smoky Mountains Fundamental resources and values are those features, systems, National Park resources and values are important enough to processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, smells, or merit national park unit designation. Statements of significance other attributes determined to merit primary consideration describe why an area is important within a global, national, during planning and management processes because they are regional, and systemwide context. These statements are linked essential to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining to the purpose of the park unit, and are supported by data, its significance. research, and consensus. Significance statements describe the distinctive nature of the park and inform management • Air and Water – Sustaining the Health of the Smokies decisions, focusing efforts on preserving and protecting the • A Living Laboratory and Outdoor Classroom most important resources and values of the park unit. • Close to Home. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is • Ancient Mountain Ecosystems the largest mountainous park east of the Mississippi River • Biodiversity and Science. The Great Smoky Mountains • Backcountry and Wilderness Experiences and is one of the most visited national park units. The park are world-renowned for the diversity of plant and animal GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL lies within a day’s drive of more than half the U.S. population species found in the park due to the variety of elevations, • Biodiversity – Wondrous Variety of Life PARK preserves a vast expanse of the and thus offers the opportunity for tens of millions of people landforms, climates, and vegetation communities— southern Appalachian Mountains to have a national park experience close to home while also representing forest types such as those that exist from • Connections ecosystem including its scenic beauty, drawing visitors from around the world.