Carolina Environmental Diversity Explorations
Roan Mountain Highlands · By Dirk Frankenberg and Jennifer Godwin-Wyer
Roan massif
Figure 1. Roan Mountain Highlands as seen from their base. (Photograph by Dirk Frankenberg. More about the photograph)
We begin the fieldtrip during our approach to the Roan massif as shown in Figure 1. Geologists call an elevated mass of the earth’s surface a massif if it is large and has several separate peaks along its crest. The Roan Mountain highlands meet that definition, as they extend for more than twelve miles along the North Carolina/Tennessee border connecting the Blue Ridge and Unaka Mountains. There are five major peaks, including Roan High Bluff (the peak at far left of Figure 1), Roan High Knob (the highest peak at 6286 feet above sea level just to the right), Grassy Ridge (the next peak) and Round and Jane Balds. If you look closely at Figure 1 you will see dark areas on the three peaks on the left. This is the spruce/fir forest. The remainder of the forest seen on the massif in Figure 1 is the northern hardwood community.
