Bays Mountain facts for kids
Bays Mountain is a long, narrow mountain range called a ridge. It is part of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians in eastern Tennessee. This ridge stretches from just south of Knoxville all the way to Kingsport, running from southwest to northeast.
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About Bays Mountain
Bays Mountain is not just one simple hill. It changes quite a bit along its length.
Southern Part of the Mountain
The southern part of Bays Mountain is not very high. It reaches about 1,300 feet (396.2 m) (around 400 meters) above sea level. In some areas, it almost blends in with the flat land around it. Two rivers, the French Broad River and the Nolichucky River, even cut through this part of the mountain.
Northern Part of the Mountain
The northern part of Bays Mountain is much taller. Here, the mountains usually average over 2,000 feet (609.6 m) (about 600 meters) high. Some peaks even reach up to 3,000 feet (914.4 m) (around 900 meters). This section is made up of several connected ridges, and some of them have their own special names.
The very highest point is called Chimneytop Mountain. It stands at 3,117 feet (950.1 m) (about 950 meters) tall. Chimneytop Mountain is a smaller ridge that branches off the main Bays Mountain ridge.
Where Bays Mountain Ends
Bays Mountain runs just south of the Holston River. This river flows from northeast to southwest. When it reaches Kingsport, the Holston River makes a big curve. It then splits into three smaller rivers that come from Virginia. Bays Mountain stops suddenly right at this curve of the Holston River.
The city of Kingsport is on the north side of the river. Right across from the end of Bays Mountain, two ridges meet in a "V" shape. There's also a lake, which used to be a reservoir, located between these ridges.
How Bays Mountain Got Its Name
Bays Mountain was named after the Bays family. Two brothers, named Bays, settled in Southwest Virginia, in Russell and Scott Counties, around the year 1780. They were known as great hunters, and that's how the mountain got its name!
Bays Mountain Park
One of the most exciting parts of Bays Mountain is Bays Mountain Park. This is a huge nature park, covering 3,550-acre (14.4 km2) (about 14 square kilometers). It's located right on Bays Mountain in Kingsport.
The park offers many cool things to see and do:
- You can see special displays of beaver dams and bee hives.
- There are exhibits about cave systems.
- The park has a planetarium where you can learn about space.
- You can see live native animals that live in the area.
- There's a nature center to teach you about the local environment.
- You can visit a 19th-century living farm museum.
- For adventure lovers, there's even an adventure course!
