Great Smoky Mountains National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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Entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, from Cherokee, North Carolina
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| Location | Counties in North Carolina and Tennessee, USA |
| Nearest city | Cherokee, North Carolina and Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
| Area | 522,419 acres (211,415 ha) |
| Visitors | 9,008,830 (in 2011) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Type: | Natural |
| Criteria: | VII, VIII, IX, X |
| Designated: | 1983 (7th session) |
| Reference #: | 259 |
| State Party: |  United States |
| Region: | North America |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a national park in the United States. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is along the Great Smoky Mountains, which are part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is the most visited national park in the United States.
There are many elevations in the park. The lowest place is Abrams Creek at 876 feet (267 m). The highest point is Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet (2,025 m). Sixteen mountains in the park reach higher than 6,000 feet (1829 m).
Park officials say there are more than 200 species of birds, 66 species of mammals, 50 species of fish, 39 species of reptiles, and 43 species of amphibians, including many lungless salamanders. The park has about 1,500 black bear In 2001 elk were brought to the park.
Over 100 species of trees grow in the park. The lower forests are mostly deciduous leafy trees. At higher altitudes, there are more coniferous trees. The park has over 1,400 flowering plant species and over 4,000 species of non-flowering plants.
There are 850 miles (1,368 km) of trails and unpaved roads in the park for hiking. The park also offers backpacking and camping.
Images for kids
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Clearcut logging in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tennessee, 1936
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The observation tower at Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the national park
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Colorful autumn leaves in October 2008
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The Alum Cave Trail to the summit of Mount LeConte provides numerous views of the Great Smoky Mountains.
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The Chimney Tops was a popular destination for hikers until access was closed due to damage from the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires.
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Cades Cove panorama
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The Becky Cable house in the Cades Cove Historic District was built in 1879.
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The John Ownby Cabin in The Sugarlands valley was built in 1860.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional de las Grandes Montañas Humeantes para niños
 | Raymond Telles |
 | Esteban Torres |
 | Romualdo Pacheco |
 | Raúl Héctor Castro |
