Chapter 8: Appalachia and the Ozarks

Chapter 8 is all about Appalachia and the Ozarks. While Washington D.C. is not exactly in the specific area the book covers, D.C. is pretty close to the Appalachian area and mountains. In this post I will talk about the Appalachian Mountains, and more specifically, the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Image from Wikipedia

The Blue Ridge Mountains are on the Eastern side of the Appalachians and face Washington D.C. The mountains extend from Georgia all the way through Pennsylvania. The mountains are called "blue" because of the blue color you see from a distance caused by the isoprene released into the atmosphere. The organic compound causes the characteristic "blue haze" that appears around the mountains. The Blue Ridge Mountains are home to the largest mountains in Eastern North America. The range contains over 125 peaks that exceed 5, 000 feet. The tallest mountain in the Blue Ridge is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina at 6, 684 feet.

Because the Blue Ridge Mountains are just West of Washington D.C., many D.C. tour companies offer day trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many tourists of the city and Washington residents alike make trips to Shenandoah National Park, just 90 minutes West of the city center. Shenandoah National park contains over 197, 000 acres of land along with over 500 miles of trail, including 101 miles of the famous "Appalachian Trail". The park area is long and narrow and close to 40% of the land area has been designated as protected wilderness.

A peak view of the park at Sunset

Mountain climbers repelling down a cliff in the Park

The highest peak in the national park is Hawksbill Mountain at 4, 051 feet. Additionally, the park contains many waterfalls. The tallest falls, Overall Run, is the largest falls in the park at 93 feet. It is world renowned for it's natural beauty and many outdoor activities it offers.