116 



SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. 



Tennessee, Tuckaseegee. Big Pigeon, Frent h Inroad, Noli- 

 chucky. Watauga, and Holston rivers. These all flow 

 from the Blue Ridge northwestward through the Unaka 

 Mountains and separate that chain into portions which 

 have received individual names. In the northeastern por- 

 tion of this region the New River, a branch of the Ohio, 

 rises and flows northeastward. Southeastward from the 

 Blue Ridge a largo number of rivers flow into the Atlantic. 

 These are the Yadkin, Catawba, Broad, Saluda, and Cha- 

 tooga rivers. In the northeastern corner of Georgia rises 

 the Chattahoochee, flowing southwestwai'd into the Gulf 

 of Mexico. Thus this region distributes its waters in all 

 directions and is practically the apex of the drainage of 



^Radial drain- ninny thousand square miles. From the Blue Ridge near 

 Blowing Rock the waters may run through Watauga River 

 into the Tennessee, through New River into the Ohio, or 

 through the Catawba and the Yadkin into the Atlantic. 

 From the Blue Ridge near the head of Hiwassee River 

 the}' may flow through Chatooga River into the Atlantic, 

 through the Chattahoochee into the Gulf of Mexico, or 

 through the Hiwassee into the Mississippi. Into these 

 large rivers flow hundreds of lesser rivers and creeks, 

 which cover the country with a most intricate network. 

 The}' are fed by myriads of springs which run from year 

 to year with unceasing flow. (Pis. LX, LXIl, LXIIl.) 



riv^ere'!'^*'" Starting Southeastward from heights of 3,000 feet or 



more, the streams tumble rapidly from the Blue Ridge 

 and reach the Piedmont Plateau at heights from 1,000 to 

 1,500 feet. Rivers running in the opposite direction 

 emerge upon the Appalachian Vallej' at heights from 1,000 

 to 2,000 feet, the highest points being at the northeast. 

 Few of these rivers flow as far as 100 miles in the moun- 

 tains, so that this fall of 1,000 or 2,000 feet makes a very 

 high average grade. The stretches of smooth water are 

 seldom long, and the descent is mainly accomplished by 

 countless rapids and minor falls. On the larger rivers 

 few falls exceed 10 feet. Falls of 25 and 30 feet can be 

 found here and there upon the smaller rivers, while in 

 places the creeks and branches have direct plunges as 

 great as 300 feet. That the scenery along the streams is 

 picturesque scarceh' needs to be said. From rapid to fall, 

 and then a stretch of placid depth, the courses of the 

 streams are pictures of kaleidoscopic variety. Come to 

 them where you may, the charm is there, and fresh 

 beauties are viewed at every bend. 



