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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited park in the National Park System. Located in North Carolina and Tennessee, nearly nine million visitors enjoy this area of 800 square miles every year. The Great Smoky Mountains park is one of the largest protected areas in the east. It is known world wide for its plant and animal diversity, mountain views, and for the pristine wilderness it encompasses. The National Park Service promotes this area for activities such as camping, hiking, picnicking, sightseeing, fishing, touring, horseback riding, nature viewing and photographic opportunities. But, due to recent issues such as various types of pollution and the introduction of exotic species, the satisfaction of such activities has diminished.
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One of the Great Smoky Mountains park's greatest assets is its primary location, which places it within easy driving distance of two-thirds of the American population. However, this proximity also subjects the park to the millions of tons of air pollution traveling downwind from many urban and industrial areas. Pollutants travel from industries as far away as New York, Chicago, and Indianapolis and are trapped by the park’s mountains, which condense the pollutants into rain, and cause it to fall into the area. The most obvious damage by this air pollution is the views for which the park is renowned. Approximately 70% of the park’s haze is attributable to sulfur, which has dropped visibility from 93 miles on a good day to only 6 miles on a bad day. Ozone levels are also extremely high with 44 days recorded at unsafe levels last summer, ranking it only behind large cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington DC. This damages certain plants in the area, and also makes visits very unpleasant for those with respiratory problems.
Over time, many exotic species have been introduced to the park’s ecosystems. Some blend well with the native species, but others cause problems for the native inhabitants. One such example is the Balsam Woolly Adelgid. This small, wax-covered insect attacks the park’s fir trees and clogs its transport tissues. Once infested, a tree will die within five years. Another similar creature, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, has the potential to eliminate the park’s hemlocks and completely change the forest type. The European Wild Boar is yet another species that has been introduced to the detriment of the native species’ ecosystems. The boar pollutes streams and roots through the soil, killing plants and promoting premature erosion of the trails and hillsides. They also compete with native species for food, such as acorns, in the fall. In addition to these animals, a variety of grasses have been introduced. Park officials feel that the elimination of such species would increase the native animal diversity, and promote the well-being of the park. All photos copyrighted by, and courtesy of, The National Park Service. |
Water and soil pollution, which are very closely related, have also been large
issues at Great Smoky Mountains park. The park lies on an already acidic bedrock, so
construction decreases the pH of the aquifers, lakes, and soil. Fossil fuel combustion
causing acid rain also add to this problem. Air pollutants, mentioned earlier, further
increase the water and soil pollution. Nitrogen, especially, has risen to a level in which
makes some of the water unsafe for animals to drink, not to mention for those living in
it.
