Tennessee America the Beautiful Quarter

Starting off the fifth year of the series featuring National Parks and Sites will be the Tennessee America the Beautiful Quarter. Although the coin will not be released until 2014, the park to be depicted on the reverse has already been chosen as Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Great Smokies celebrated the 75th anniversary of the park’s dedication in 2009 when the selection of the site was announced. The park’s depiction on the reverse of a circulating quarter was viewed as a perfect way to celebrate the occasion.

Although the design for the quarter will not be prepared and released for some time, it is expected to represent the lush forest, abundant plant and animal life, and rich scenery and culture of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Additional information about the quarter including the initial and final designs will be available here, when the quarter nears its release date.

About Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It is no secret that National Parks are typically places of great historical and cultural significance, or great visual beauty and diversity. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is no exception. The mist covered mountains are some of the most lush and green in the entire world. The Smoky Mountains are thought to be the oldest mountains in the country, as scientists to believe their formation began around 300 billion years ago.

Unlike many other mountains ranges, the Great Smokies are situated along a vertical plain, meaning that the animals that lived on their slopes and valleys could migrate north or south depending on the climate changes. Because of its unique geographical orientation, the mountain range is home to an extremely diverse array of species. Researchers estimate that around ninety thousand distinct species of plants and animals make their homes within its borders.

Those who visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park are often surprised at the dense humidity and moisture that often characterize its climate. The forest floor is lush and thick with plant life, while the rivers, trees and soil soak up the moisture that comes from many days of rainfall throughout the year. In addition to being officially recognized as a protected area in 1926, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been named an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations.