The unbearable appeal of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
Established in 1934, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park attracts as many as 10 million visitors a year.
The name is no mystery to those who have been — most days the skies over the mountains are covered by a smoky blue haze. The park's 800 square miles, stretching from Tennessee to North Carolina, includes the highest peak on the East Coast and a rich and complicated history.
SEE ALSO: 20 photos that show the exquisite beauty of America's National Parks
Also, there are black bears. And that means, depending on the time of year, there are baby black bears.
I could tell you more about the park, but wouldn't you rather look at a baby bear — spotted in May of this year — instead? Let's do both.
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
Even before the park, the mountains were a popular destination for travelers because of the mountain climate and natural springs.
"Early lodging establishments introduced people to the beauty of the Smokies, who spread the word which led to the national park movement," Carroll McMahan, local historian and special projects facilitator at the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, told Mashable.
Sevierville is one of the small towns, near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, on the northern side of the park.
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
Combined, the three towns welcome almost 15,000,000 visitors annually, according to Amanda Marr, marketing director at the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. Easy access to the park has made the region a tremendous tourism success.
While typical tourist attractions are a big focus for development, the region also promotes its natural resources — like ample wildlife — as a big draw.
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
Biologists estimate about 1,500 bears live in the park, according to the National Park Service.
That's almost two bears per square mile of the park, making sightings common. The park service is tasked with keeping bears (and humans) safe, so warnings about the animals are even more common.
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
If you spot a bear in the park, remember: They're best observed from afar. It's not only dangerous to get close to a black bear, it's illegal to intentionally get closer than 50 yards.
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
IMAGE: ADAM SCHWEIGERT
More about the beginnings of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
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