View of the Tennesse River Gorge from the bluffs below Signal Point on Signal Mountain. This view encompasses Chattanooga at the mouth of the Gorge to the right with the entrance to Suck Creek on the extreme right. In the far distance, across the river, is Elder Mountain (Raccoon Mountain in old maps, Brown's Mountain in even older maps), part of the Cumberland Plateau. The Plateau here is low, averaging about 2,100 feet in height and covered in oak and hickory dominated forests.
The bulk of the existing forest and open space has regrown since being cut in the 1930’s, and is rich in plant and animal species. At least 1,500 species of vascular plants have been recorded from the Tennessee River Gorge area, as well as dozens of native mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Bird populations are healthy, and many species once listed as rare or extirpated are now common and breeding within the gorge, including: bald eagle, osprey, great blue heron and peregrine falcon. Historically, this Gorge was home to the American bison, elk, red wolf, cougar, bear, but these species can no longer be found in the Gorge. The forests here were once dominated by American chestnut, but the blight in the early 20th century killed off nearly the whole population. The absence of these species likely has changed the character of the existing forests in subtle ways we imperfectly understand.
The IPIX picture below leads to information on the forests and ecosystems of the Tennessee River Gorge as it is today. Double-click on or near the targets to see more details. You need the iPIX viewer installed to view these scenes. The viewer is available free from iPIX.
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