The Great Smoky Mountains are so named because they are usually covered by a smoking mist or hazy. They rank among the highest and most rugged of the mountains that form the Appalachian Mountains system. The Great Smokies form the boundary between Tennesse and North Carolina. The highest peak is Clingmans Dome at 6642 feet. In 1930, most of the mountain area was set aside by the federal government as a national park.
