Geologic map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region, Tennessee and North Carolina

A comprehensive geologic map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region, spanning Tennessee and North Carolina, reveals critical geological structures that support biodiversity research and land management. Conducted between 1993 and 2003 by the U.S. Geological Survey in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS), this 1:100,000-scale map was derived from detailed fieldwork at scales of 1:24,000 and 1:62,500. The study addressed gaps in existing knowledge, revised problematic areas, and created a digital database to aid interdisciplinary research, soil mapping by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. This map serves as an essential tool for park management and visitor education, providing foundational data for understanding the region's complex geology.

Southworth, S., Schultz, A., Aleinikoff, J. N., & Merschat, A. J. (2012). Geologic map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region, Tennessee and North Carolina. Scientific Investigations Map. https://doi.org/10.3133/sim2997