Nantahala National Forest

"Western North Carolina's natural gem. Created in 1920 the 500 000-acre Nantahala National Forest dominates the rugged southwestern corner of North Carolina. Rivers such as the Cheoah Cullasaja Chattooga Nantahala and Tuckasegee carve deep gorges making the region one of the wettest in the nation. The Whitewater River tumbles over the highest waterfall in the eastern United States. Power companies dammed local rivers creating some of North Carolina's most scenic recreational mountain lakes. The high peaks secluded coves and forested woodlands of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest Panthertown Valley and Buck Creek Serpentine Pine Barrens and other areas hold cultural and natural history secrets"--Back cover.