Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A national park straddles the border between two states. It includes the ridged forests of Tennessee and North Carolina. The park is called Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors might wonder how the park got its name. The Cherokee called the mountains "place of blue smoke." A blue mist always seems to hang over the mountains. The park takes its name from the mountains.


Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its wildflowers. There are around 1,600 different species here! That is more than any other national park. They bloom for about two months. The flowers are gone by the time summer comes. They begin to bloom at lower elevations first. You can use a guidebook to help you identify the different types of wildflowers. You use a flower's color, shape, and size to tell what type it is. You can also use the number and shapes of its petals. Some wildflowers have names that tell what they look like. There is the beaked violet. This purple flower looks like a beak from the side. You can see Dutchman's britches. This flower looks like a tiny pair of pants! Some other flowers include the star chickweed, trout lily, bloodroot, and bishop's cap.


This is the most visited national park in the United States. There is a lot to do here. If you like to hike, there are over 800 miles of trails for you to explore. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for its beauty. You can .....


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