Gorges State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gorges State Park | |
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| North Carolina State Park | |
| Natural Monument (IUCN III) | |
 Upper Bearwallow Falls, one of the many waterfalls at Gorges State Park
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| Named for: Jocasee Gorges | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Transylvania |
| Location | |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 1,900 ft (579.1 m) |
| Area | 7,100 acres (2,873.3 ha) |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Managed by | North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources |
| Nearest city | Cashiers, North Carolina |
  Location of Gorges State Park in North Carolina
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| Website : Gorges State Park | |
Gorges State Park is a 7,100 acre (29 km²) North Carolina state park in Transylvania County, North Carolina in the United States. The land, along Jocassee Gorges, was purchased by the state from Duke Energy Corporation in 1999. It is North Carolina's westernmost state park and one of the state's newest. The park is adjacent to part of the Nantahala National Forest and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Toxaway Game Land.
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[edit] History
The land of Gorges State Park is a thriving second growth forest. It has recovered from the interference of man to provide a thriving and unique habitat.
One of the most damaging interferences to the Gorges environment occurred in 1916 when the dam containing Lake Toxaway broke. Record amounts of water gushed southward down the Toxaway River, destroying the communities in its path, scouring the gorges and leaving piles of debris 15 to 20 feet high.
Following the flood, local citizens eventually sold large land tracts in the Gorges to Singer Sewing Machine Company, which logged most of the land. Then, in the 1940s and 1950s, Singer sold the land to Duke Energy Corporation. The corporation purchased the land for its steep topography and high rainfall, which offered opportunities for development of hydropower projects.
Conservation studies, in Jocassee Gorge, began in the late 1970s. In the late 1990s, Duke Energy decided that it no longer needed large portions of the Gorges for future hydropower and offered the land for sale to natural resources agencies in North and South Carolina. The NC Division of Parks and Recreation stepped up to create, with the support of local citizens and the North Carolina General Assembly, one of the newest state parks in 1999.[1]
[edit] Recreation
Gorges State Park is open for year round recreation including, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing. Primitive camping is available in several different natural environments. The Ray Fisher Place campground is 2.7 miles (4.34km) from the Grassy Ridge Access area. It is a hike in area with six primitive campsites each with a picnic table, fire ring and lantern hook.
Another camping area is on the southern area of the park long the Foothills Trail. This area is also a hike in, primitive campsite. The streams of Gorges State Park are all designated Wild Trout Waters [2]. Lake Jocassee is a deep man made lake that is open to trout and bass fishing. Many miles of trails are open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
Grassy Ridge Access Area on North Carolina Highway 281 South in Sapphire is closed for construction until further notice.
Frozen Creek Access on Frozen Creek Road in Rosman is Open.
[edit] Temperate rain forest
The average yearly rainfall at Gorges State Park is over 80 inches (2032 mm) creating a temperate rain forest. The rainfall is a result of orographic lift which occurs when an air mass is forced from a low elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain. The land at Gorges State Park rises over 2,000 feet (609 m) in just 4 miles (6.43 km).[3] As the air mass gains altitude it expands and cools adiabatically. This cooler air cannot hold the moisture as well as warm air can, which effectively raises the relative humidity to 100%, creating clouds and frequent precipitation.[4]
[edit] Ecology
Gorges State Park is home to a wide variety of habitats due to its geologic formations, elevation, and climate. It is located between the Tennessee Valley/Gulf of Mexico and the Savannah River/Atlantic Ocean drainage basins. Five streams flowing through Gorges State Park carry water over the Blue Ridge Escarpment, gradually at first, before plummeting over waterfalls into a series of gorges.[5]
Gorges State Park is home to roughly 125 rare plant and animal species and 12 endangered or threatened plant and animal species.[5] Many of these rare plants species would typically be found only in the tropic regions of the world. Scientists are unsure of how these plants, including Pringle's aquatic moss and Carolina star-moss, have come to grow in the Appalachian Mountains far from their usual homes. Some scientists believe that spores blew in from the tropics. Others think that the species have remained from a time period when the surrounding area was much warmer.[5]
Gorges State Park is also home to an abundance of plant and wildlife that is more typical to the southern Appalachians. Plant species include, mountain laurel, rhododendron, white pine, red oak, and hickories. Oconee bells are very rare flowering plants are abundant in the gorges of the park. These flowers are endangered and populations of the plant have been found.[5]
The most common animal species of Gorges State Park are White-tailed deer, black bear, Wild Turkey, coyote, fox, and wild boar. The park is also home to North Carolina's largest known population of green salamanders. The rare Swainson's warbler and three rare fish, the turquoise darter, rosyface chub and redeye bass are found in Gorges State Park as well.[5]
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Gorges State Park:
- Caesars Head State Park (South Carolina)
- Devils Fork State Park (South Carolina)
- Oconee State Park (South Carolina)
- Table Rock State Park (South Carolina)
[edit] References
- ^ History of Gorges State Park. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
- ^ Gorges State Park: Activities. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
- ^ Gorges State Park. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
- ^ Whiteman, C. David (2000). Mountain Meteorology: Fundamentals and Applications. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-513271-8.
- ^ a b c d e Gorges State Park: Ecological Information. North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
