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Smoky Mountain Seasons
AUGUST 2006
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Ideal Environment
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Several factors came together to make the Great Smoky Mountains a near-perfect hothouse of biodiversity. The north-south orientation of the Appalachian chain created a haven of protective valleys for many southward-fleeing species taking refuge from the glaciers during the last ice age. The Smokies also have a diverse underlying geology and a heavy annual rainfall fueled by tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico. Most important, dramatic changes in elevation mean that this relatively small region encompasses a stunning variety of ecosystems.
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