Clingmans Dome: On the roof of the Smokies in the most popular national park of the country

The Smokies seen from the Clingmans Dome tower early in the morning - Photo: Still Gravity.
Morning view from the Clingmans Dome tower - License our images here.

This is the highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the state of Tennessee - third place in the East of the country after Mount Mitchel and Mount Craig. Elevation: 6,643 feet (2,024 meters). 

The tower on the summit looks similar to the one in the warmer Shark Valley of Everglades National Park. The day was cold and clear, a frosty wind beating our faces. Amazing the blue smoke of the Smokies resembling mighty glaciers through the deep valleys.

This place was the Kuwahi of the Cherokee Indians. This means "mulberry place". In the White Bear legend, their high mountain was the meeting place of the bears. For the early white settlers became the "Smoky Dome" until the actual name was given honoring the Confederate General that explored these mountains: Thomas Lanier Clingman.

Beautiful place over the clouds.

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