28 September, 2011

Watauga County

One way of describing the geography in and around Watauga County is OLD. One of the ancient sites here is Grandfather Mountain which is one of the oldest peaks in the Blue Ridge section of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Geologists believe that it's millions of years old. The height of the mountain ranges between 2,500  and 5964 feet above sea level.
Another old and interesting site is the New River which is one of the oldest rivers in the world along with the Nile.The New River eventually flows into the Ohio River and from there runs into the Mississipi River and out into the Gulf of Mexico.
=> I haven't been to neither of these sites yet, but we are going up the Grandfather Mountain this Sunday and I cannot wait to see it. The nature here in Boone, NC is absolutely stunning and at the moment the leaves are turning red and yellow and it's really beautiful.

Some more information from "A short history of Watauga County " by M.C. Hardy

The Cherokee were the native ppl whom early Europeans met in western North Carolina. The Cherokee used the area for hunting and traveled through the country. One of the Cherokee paths across the Blue Ridge is the Old Buffalo Trail. It is possible that the Old Buffalo Trail brought some of the first hunters, explorers and settlers into the area.
Starting in 1838 the Cherokee were forcibly removed from this part of the country and even after the removal of the Cherokee the future Watauga county was still a wild place. It was in 1849 that an act was passed that established a new county by the name of Watauga County.

Creeks and streams flow from many of the mountains and knobs, creating valleys.
Crab Orchard Creek
Clarks Creek
Baird Creek
Wildcat Creek
New Years Creek
Sims Creek
Boone Fork
Winkler Creek
Elk Creek
Cobb Creek
Meat Camp Creek
Riddle Fork
=> I love the names of the creeks...
You can often see signs that say "adopt a creek" - I would like to have a "baby creek" at home :)
I haven't really figured out what that exactly means, though.

Enough history for today.




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