A national park with over a half million acres protects spectacular Appalachian Mountain scenery and some of the highest peaks east of the Mississippi River. The Cherokee Indians named these mountains, the place of blue smoke. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is covered with a temperate forest with 130 different varieties of trees, 70 kinds of mammals and over 200 species of birds. Besides the magnificent panoramic mountain views, the area is beautified with cascading waterfalls, mountain streams and fast flowing rivers.
     Shown here is a picturesque section of the Little River. This river and several of its branches flow between the Rich and Cove mountains near the northern border of the park. What could be better than the sights and sounds of this cool mountain stream? Okay, a few things; but this ranks high on the list.