What makes the Great Smoky Mountains smoky?

The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the United States. Located on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina and spanning more than 500,000 acres, the vast landscape is in the heart of historic Cherokee homeland. But how did this iconic landscape get its name? Vox traveled to the Smokies to explore how these mountains get their iconic blue, hazy effect and how the Cherokee people, whose presence in the region dates back thousands of years, are connected to one of the nation’s most impressive natural spaces. Sources and further reading: * Great Smoky Mountains National Park * Museum of the Cherokee People This video is presented by Visit North Carolina. Visit North Carolina doesn’t have a say in our editorial decisions, but they make videos like this one possible. If you enjoy our reporting and want to hear more from Vox journalists, sign up for our Patreon at patreon.com/vox. Each month, our members get access to exclusive videos, livestreams, and chats with our newsroom.