geology great smoky mountains

Flashcard 1 Term Great Smoky Mountains National Park Definition

A geologically rich park spanning North Carolina and Tennessee, featuring high-elevation peaks, diverse ecosystems, and evidence of tectonic uplift through obduction.

Flashcard 2 Term Mt. Le Conte Definition

One of the tallest peaks in the Smokies, rising approximately 1.6 km above Gatlinburg, illustrating significant local relief typical of mountain-building regions.

Flashcard 3 Term Gatlinburg, TN Definition

A tourist town near the Smokies, used to highlight elevation contrast and relief in mountain landscapes.

Flashcard 4 Term Obduction Definition

A tectonic process where oceanic crust is thrust over continental crust, contributing to mountain formation; key in the uplift of the Appalachian Mountains.

Flashcard 5 Term Proto-Atlantic Ocean Closure Definition

A major geologic event involving the collision of Africa and Europe with North America, leading to the formation of the Appalachian orogeny.

Flashcard 6 Term Appalachian Mountains Definition

A mountain chain formed through multiple orogenic events, including obduction and continental collision; includes the Smokies and Valley and Ridge Province.

Flashcard 7 Term Valley and Ridge Province Definition

A physiographic region of folded and faulted sedimentary rocks, part of the Appalachian system; includes State College, PA.

Flashcard 8 Term Virgin Timber Definition

Forested areas that have never been logged, preserving original soil profiles and slope stability in remote mountainous terrain.

Flashcard 9 Term Biodiversity in the Smokies Definition

Resulting from varied elevation and climate, the park hosts diverse flora including azaleas, rhododendrons, mountain laurels, and orchids.

Flashcard 10 Term Orographic Precipitation Definition

Rainfall caused by moist air rising over mountains; contributes to the Smokies’ high annual precipitation and lush vegetation.

Flashcard 11 Term Cades Cove Definition

A preserved valley in the Smokies showcasing early settler life and land use, offering insight into human interaction with mountainous landscapes.

Flashcard 12 Term J.D. Rockefeller’s Contribution Definition

Philanthropic funding for land acquisition in 1926, aiding the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Flashcard 13 Term Blue Ridge Parkway Definition

A scenic highway connecting Shenandoah National Park to the Smokies, traversing geologically significant terrain along the Appalachian chain.