Displaying items by tag: obed river

2021 economic numbers prove small parks have big impacts

ONEIDA — Both the Obed National Wild and Scenic River and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area offer wilderness options free of the hassles associated with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the country.

The Cumberland Plateau-area destinations continue to grow in popularity as more tourists seek solace in nature, a trend that began during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those tourists also spend millions of dollars in nearby rural communities, some of which face chronic economic challenges.

The Southeast is seen at night from the International Space Station. NASA

Dark Sky parks, including some in East Tennessee, offer true views of heaven

“Look up at the sky. There is a light, a beauty up there, that no shadow can touch.”  J. R. R. Tolkien  

WARTBURG — Those who came before us read the night sky like we read maps today.  

In ancient times, pointing to the stars, they imagined creatures, mythological heroes and common every-day objects. Because of their fixed positions, the constellations became a foolproof way to navigate across vast, featureless deserts and expansive seas. The stars marked the changing seasons and the passage of time. The star patterns were memorized and taught to each new generation.