Читать книгу Carolina Whitewater. A Paddler's Guide to the Western Carolinas онлайн

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The coolest and wettest portion of both states, the Blue Ridge Mountain region is neither farmed extensively nor densely populated, with the steepness of the terrain making the land more suitable for forest than for farms.

Geologically, the region is underlain by crystalline rocks such as granite, slate, and gneiss, which are dense and hard. The mountains are usually steep with V-shaped valleys. Slopes are covered with thick soil and luxurious forests which retard run-off.

Many rivers are born high in the mountains of the Carolinas, flowing down in all directions. Typically running along steep, rocky channels, the streams roll swiftly down the mountains over an abundance of rapids and falls, broadening when they reach the valley floors. West of the Blue Ridge the streams flow north and west, forming a major part of the Tennessee River drainage area. To the north are the headwaters of the New, which eventually empties into the Ohio. On the southeastern slopes of the Blue Ridge, the Broad, Catawba, and Yadkin are born. These merge with other drainages after crossing into South Carolina and finally find their way to the Atlantic Ocean. To the south are the headwaters of the Savannah River, which follows the South Carolina–Georgia border to the sea.