WHAT NATIONAL FORESTS ARE NEARBY?
The long swath of Cherokee National Forest follows the ancient ridges of the southern Appalachian Mountains along the border of eastern Tennessee, interrupted only by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Though the Smokies get the lion’s share of attention, the Cherokee’s latticework of wicked whitewater, misty waterfalls, and winding footpaths has a charm that’s arguably the equal of its national-park neighbor. The hardwoods that clothe today’s Cherokee hide a lot of old battle scars. In the 19th century, the ancient forests of these mountains were ravaged by wholesale timbering and poor agricultural practices. In 1911, Congress passed the Weeks Act, which allowed the purchase of land for national forests. After the law was enacted, the first land acquisitions were made for what eventually became the 633,000-acre Cherokee National Forest, named for the Cherokee Indians (they made their ancestral homeland in these parts). Today the Forest is healthy and rich with plant and wild animal
Related Questions
- Im interested in learning about the status of contributed funds for ski areas or National Forests, or the next expected award round for a National Forest. Who do I contact?
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- WHAT NATIONAL FORESTS ARE NEARBY?
