Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain

South flank of Grandfather Mountainbdep2

Grandfather Mountain near Linville is 1,818 meters ( Calloway Peak), the highest peak in the eastern area of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are part of the Appalachian Mountains. It rises 1,219 feet above the valley of the Catawba River. On the mountain, sometimes very strong winds prevail, with measured peaks of over 320 km / h On the southern flank of the mountain of the Blue Ridge Parkway runs elevated, this section was completed in 1987 as the last part of the built since 1936 and 750 km long recreational road.

Grandfather Mountain is privately owned and is used as a nature reserve and tourist destination. The mountain is known for its built 1952 Mile High Swinging Bridge, which is the highest suspension bridge in the United States. A paved road, are on display at the information on the wildlife and picnic facilities adjacent leads up to the bridge, near which also houses a museum. The mountain offers a large number of different hiking trails of varying difficulty. The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games are on the Grandfather Mountain held annually, which are among the largest and most popular Highland Games in the United States.

At the top of Grandfather Mountain, there is a relic of the stock originally prevailing in the Appalachian spruce-fir forest, Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii ) and rock -fir (Abies lasiocarpa ). This type of forest died in the 20th century almost completely. Reason was the introduction of Adelges piceae neozoon, a Pflanzenlausart.