Appalachian Mountain Range – Home To The Iconic Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Mountains

Geology

Topography

The Appalachian Mountains are made up of numerous different mountain ranges that create a chain of alternating valleys and ridges toward the eastern side of North America. They stretch from Canada all the way to Alabama in the United States, spanning a distance 2,400km.

The range consists of many rolling hills and lush valleys that are the result of years of erosion that wore down its tall, jagged peaks.

The Appalachian Mountains cross through many provinces, both in North America and Canada, as well as many cities.

Climate

Due to the vast length of the Appalachian Mountains, the range has a diverse climate that differs between the northern and southern reaches of the slopes.

Two ocean currents affect the climate in the Appalachian region: the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current. The Gulf Stream carries warm water from the south coast and the Caribbean, while the Labrador Current brings cold Arctic water.

The northern Appalachian Mountains are affected by the cold water from the Arctic, resulting in harsh, cold winters and mild summers. The southern sections of the range get hot summers and milder winters.

Both regions get a lot of rainfall, resulting in the lush forests and vegetation that cover the hills and valleys of the mountain range.

Wildlife and Plants

Most of the Appalachian Mountains are covered with forests, making it a valuable region for lumber and manufacturing paper. The forests consist of seasonal broad-leaf and needle-leaf trees as well as many evergreen trees.

Conifers, including balsam fir and red spruce, and hardwoods, such as birch and ash, can be found in the more northern sections of the mountains. Various types of Oak trees and evergreens cover some of the upper reaches and rocky ridges of the mountains, while heath fields, known as "balds", grow over others.

There are also many species of flowering and fruit-bearing plants that add to the beauty of the Appalachian Mountain scenery.

Various small mammals and several predators can be spotted in the dense forests of the mountain range. Beaver, raccoon, skunk and several species of squirrel can be seen in the forests, as well as black bear, gray and red fox, bobcat, coyote and red wolves.

The Appalachian Mountains are also rich in bird-life, supporting about 200 different recorded species, including  wild turkeys, great horned owls and various songbirds.

Appalachian Mountain Regions

Northern Appalachians

The Appalachian Mountains are divided into three main sections: Northern, Central and Southern. The Northern Appalachians span from Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada to the Hudson River.

The most well-known mountains within this region of the Appalachians are the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the Notre Dame Range in Quebec, the Long Range Mountains in Newfoundland and the Green Mountains in Vermont.

Some of the highest elevations of the Appalachian Mountains are located in the Northern region. These include Mount Katahdin (1,606m) in Maine, Mount Washington (1,917m) in New Hampshire and various peaks in the White Mountains.

Central Appalachians

The Central Appalachians run from the Hudson Valley through to New River, which flows through Virginia and West Virginia.

This region is renowned for New York's Catskill Mountains, Pennsylvania's Poconos, the Allegheny Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains that span from Pennsylvania to Georgia.

Southern Appalachians

The Southern Appalachian Mountains stretch southward from the New River. The highest peak in the Appalachian Mountain Range, Mount Mitchell (2,037m), is located in this region in North Carolina.

The most prominent mountains in the southern region are the Great Smoky Mountains that border Tennessee and North Carolina, as well as the Black Mountains in North Carolina and the Cumberland Plateau.  

Notable Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachian Mountains are a massive expanse of rolling hills, valleys and rocky peaks. Thus, they are made up of multiple different ranges with many well known mountains and summits.

The mountains are all quite uniform in height within the different regions and ranges so there are no particularly distinctive summits.

Here are some of the most notable mountains within the Appalachian Mountain system.

Mount Mitchell

Mount Mitchell is the highest summit in the Appalachian Mountains at 2,037 meters above sea level. This is arguably one of the most beautiful mountains in the USA.  It forms part of the Black Mountains in the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, which gets its name from the bluish hue it gets when viewed from a distance.

The mountain is located in North Carolina in the Mount Mitchell State Park. It was previously known as Black Dome due its round shape, but was then named after Elisha Mitchell, who explored the Black Mountains in 1835 and concluded that the range reached higher elevations than Mount Washington, which was considered to be the highest mountain east of the Rocky Mountains at the time.

Springer Mountain

Mount Katahdin

Mount Katahdin is located in Maine and is the highest mountain in the state at 1,605 meters. Penobscot Indians named the mountain Katahdin, which translates to "the Great Mountain".

The mountain is a rugged and steep granite massif that makes for a challenging climb. Mount Katahdin marks the northern end of the Appalachian Trail.

The first recorded ascent of Mount Katahdin was made by Zackery Adley and Charles Turner Jnr. in 1804.

Blood Mountain

Blood Mountain sits at an elevation of 1,359 meters above sea level and is the highest point in the Georgia region of the Appalachians. It forms the border between Union County and Lumpkin County and lies within the Blood Mountain Wilderness and the Chattahoochee National Forest.

The exact origin of the mountain's name is unknown although there are some theories behind it. Some believe that it is called Blood Mountain because of a battle that took place there between the Creek and Cherokee Indians. Others theorize that its name came from the red-colored lichen that grows around the summit.

Roan Mountain

Roan Mountain is located in the southern region of the Appalachian Mountains and includes the longest area of grassy bald in the whole Appalachian range, as well as the biggest rhododendron garden in the world.

The mountain has five peaks, the highest of which is the Roan High Knob at 1,619 meters. The other peaks are Roan High Bluff, Round Bald, Jane Bald and Grassy Ridge Bald.

Notable Hikes in the Appalachian Range

The most notable hike in the Appalachian Range is, of course, the famous Appalachian Trail. While the entire trail can take months to complete, there are plenty of shorter hikes along the way and popular sections of the trail that make for great day hikes and multi-day treks.

Here is some more information on some of the most notable hikes in the Appalachian Mountains.

The Appalachian Trail

Mount Katahdin Hike

Blood Mountain Loop

Charlies Bunion Hike

References: Britannica, Wikipedia