The mountain range is formed from north-east of Canadian shield ( American State of Maine and Newfoundland, Canada) up to coastal plains of Mexico Bay, where it is finished in Alabama territory. Towards east direction, Atlantic Ocean is to be found, in west part, inland plains around Mississipi and Ohio rivers. The countryside has dominantly character of highland, local ridges seldom exceed the altitude of 1500 metres. The climate is friendly, warm and wet, the neighbourhood of ocean and extent plains, profound  leafy woods, good soil as wells the stocks of mineral sources created ideal conditions for colonization.

The Appalach Mountain Range  is formed with two systems. South Appalach  occupies south half of this system in states of New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. On the other hand, North Appalach is a highland, passing from Hudson river in state New York, towards north-east, across New Anglia and Canadian provinces up to Newfoundland Island.

From geological point of view, all this mountain system could be divided into North and South Appalach. Further, South Appalach could be divided, according to the relief, into promontory, Blue Mountains, Ridges and Valleys, and Appalach plateaux.

Promontory

This range is spreaded inside narrow belt , from Hudson-river up to state of Alabama. This range is the lowest one from all parts of South Appalach. Hilly country and plain area is very densely inhabitated. So, original leafy woods remained on hills only, whereas most of the territory is intensively used in agricultural way.

Blue Mountains

Nearly consistent chain of ridges is passing from south Pennsylvania up to south-east Georgia, in length of 900 kms approx. The average altitude of peaks is moving in range of 1000-1500 metres above sea level. Here, you can find the second highest peak of the whole Appalach Mountains (and east half of USA) – Mt.Mitchell (2037 m). Clingmans Dome (2024 m), and next 45 peaks, situated in south direction from Roanoke, is reaching to the altitude border of 1800 metres above sea level. Blue Mountains are, in contradistinction to Promontory, very few colonized area. Mountain relief, poor soil as well as colder climate is protecting leafy woods against further felling.

The Ridges and Valleys

This belt, wide from 20 kms up to 160 kms, and 2000 kms long, is passing from St.Lawrence-river up to state of Alabama. The area, placed between high Blue Mountains and flat Appalach plateaux, is interwoven with nest of lower ridges, reaching the height of 1200 metres.

Appalach Plateaux

Most to the  west situated part of Appalach Mountains has more outstanding mountaneous character as neighbouring Ridges and Valleys. The altitude of its plateau is moving around 1000 metres above sea level. The whole area is approx. 2000 kms long and it is moderately sloping down to the west . Dense river nest is to be found there, directing mostly to the west- as, for instance Ohio, Kentucky, Kanawha.

North Appalach System

In north-west direction from Hudson-river valley, up to Canadian Newfoundland Island, there is spreading lower, more narrow and less expressive half of Appalach system , situated on territories of USA and Canada. This has approximately  the same length as South Appalach Mountain Range. The whole North Appalach Mountains were completely covered with glaciers in past. Today, the ranges have, owing to its small altitudes, the character of highland. Anyway, big stocks of mineral sources could be found there, and dense settlement is to be noticed.

Fauna and Flora

Frequent rain and fertile soil present ideal life conditions for 1500 sorts of plants. Along ridges, you can find pine-forests, whereas as most often representative, you can meet pines, balsam firewoods, in higher areas Fraser firs, pine trees and tsuga. Further, you can find there red maples, liliacelous trees, rhododendrons and hazel-bushes. From animal world, it is to be mentione rich representation of birds- more than 200 sorts are living there. The forests are inhabitated with brown bears, Virgin deers, lynx, turkeys or rattle-snakes. National Park Shenendoah (founded in 1934, extent 970 square kilometres) and National Park  Great Smoky Mountains (founded in 1935, extent 2600 square kilometres) belong to most beautiful and most popular national parks of Appalach Mountain Range. However, fauna and flora were hardly damaged  with human activity in past. On  the other hand, the establishment of several national parks  and transfer of two thousands of farmers caused that  the whole area obtains consequently its original face again.

Text: J. Štantejský

Photo: Panoramio.com - Klaus Rommel, Pfaffendorn, Klaus Rommel, chsanfino, cwohlers, FunkeyMonk, Yank in Dixie, Don Wright, Pfaffendorn

Translation: J. Jonáš

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