Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the North Carolina Tennessee border at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountain Chain. The park was officially chartered by congress in 1934 and was dedicated by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1940. In 1983 the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today Great Smokey Mountains National Park is one of the most visited places in the federal park system.
     The Great Smoky Mountains contain some of the highest peaks in the eastern US with elevations as high 6643 feet on Clingman’s Dome. The Appalachian Trail runs through the park as part of an extensive trail system. Extreme biodiversity is caused by the extremes in elevation and an abundance of wildlife can be spotted throughout the park. This includes black bear, elk, white tail deer, bobcat, coyote and numerous smaller mammals.