More than 4,000 species of plants grow here. A walk from mountain base to peak compares with traveling 1,250 miles north. Several resident plants and animals live only in the Smokies. A rich cultural history . From the Cherokee Indians, to the Scotch-Irish settlers, this land was home to a variety of cultures and people.
Many historic structures remain standing.
Subsistence turned to exploitation as logging concerns stripped the region of timber. Recovery is now the dominant theme. Nine million visits per year. The National Park Service must balance the needs of the land with the desires of the people both today and for the future. The Park is an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site.