| Uwharrie Mountains | |
| Range | |
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View over range from Morrow Mountain
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | North Carolina |
The Uwharrie Mountains are a mountain range in North Carolina. The range lies in the counties of Randolph, Montgomery, Stanly, and Davidson, although its foothills stretch into Cabarrus, Anson, Union counties and terminate in the hills of Person. Formed approximately 500 million years ago by accretion along the Gondwanan tectonic plate. They are thought to have once peaked at some 20,000 feet, but erosion has worn the Uwharries to a peak height of only 1,119 feet (341 meters) above sea level, as measured by the NC Geodetic Survey. The highest point in the range is High Rock Mountain, in southwestern Davidson County. The Uwharries were once a coastal mountain range; isostasy has slowly raised the eastern seabed, until today the Uwharries are in the Piedmont section of North Carolina over 150 miles from the coast.
The mountains give their name to the Uwharrie National Forest. Once entirely cleared for timber and farmland, the mountains were designated a U.S. National Forest in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. The forests and woodlands have since returned, and the area contains a diversity of wildlife, recreational facilities, and numerous Native American archeological sites. The mountains lie within the Southeastern mixed forests ecoregion.[1]
In 1799, the discovery of gold at the nearby Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County led to America's first gold rush.
The North Carolina Zoo, America's first state-supported zoo, is located in the Uwharries region.
The Caraway Mountains, a segment of the Uwharries, are located in western Randolph County, west of Asheboro.