Appalachia
Georgia's Appalachia is located within the Southern Appalachian Mountains, a narrow and extensive mountain system that parallels the eastern coast of North America for approximately 1,212 miles. Formed about 250 million years ago, it is one of the oldest mountain systems on Earth.
The Appalachian Mountains stretch from Newfoundland all the way down to the northern sections of Alabama and Georgia. They are separated from the eastern Coastal Plain by a massive fall line. The system is a mixture of mountains, valleys, high ridges and wide, dissected plateaus. Dense forests cover much of the system, and some rock structures date back to the Precambrian and early Paleozoic eras.
Two of the most prominent Appalachian ranges can be found in the Southern United States. The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina have some of the tallest and most rugged peaks in the system, with some towering over 6,000 feet (Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River at 6,684 feet). The backbone of the system, the Blue Ridge, starts in Georgia and stretches north to Pennsylvania.
On the eastern side of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, between the Blue Ridge and the fall line, is a rolling plateau known as the Piedmont, which takes up large portions of Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. On the western side is the Cumberland Plateau, stretching from southern West Virginia to Alabama. In-between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Cumberland is a hilly region called the Ridge and Valley, which stretches from central Alabama up to New York State.
Much of the Appalachian Mountain system is now used for recreational purposes. Parks such as Great Smoky Mountains National Park attract thousands of visitors a year while also serving as wildlife sanctuaries. The Appalachian Trail, a 2,143-mile footpath stretching between Mount Katahdin in Maine and Springer Mountain in Georgia, was completed in 1937. This trail is used and maintained by stout hikers from around the world.
Georgia Appalachia Travel Resources
Map Guide of AppalachiaTrails of Georgia's Appalachia
Georgia's Appalachia Attraction GuideGeorgia's Appalachia Dining Guide
Georgia's Appalachia Event GuideMountain Life
Early Mountain LifeModern Mountain LifeMountain SpeechMountain MusicMountain SongGeorgia Travel Resources:
Georgia Lodgings & AccommodationsGeorgia Tourism Events Calendar Georgia Tourism Search Engine Visitor Information Centers Convention & Visitors Bureaus Local Travel Services Request Georgia Travel Guide or Brochures Related Sites:Georgia Historical SocietyNew Georgia Encyclopedia