The Great Smoky Mountains possess an ethereal quality unlike anywhere else on Earth. This region hosts extraordinary biodiversity with over 19,000 documented species thriving across dramatic elevation changes that create multiple climate zones within a small area. The distinctive "smoke" that gives these mountains their name comes from natural compounds released by dense vegetation, creating the mystical haze that shrouds ancient peaks. From the salamander capital of the world in cool, moist valleys to diverse plant communities that mirror a journey from Georgia to Canada as you climb higher, the Smokies reveal nature's artistry in its most concentrated form.