I am completely obsessed with the Blue Ridge Escarpment, y’all. If you’ve never heard of it, allow me to foster a new appreciation for, in my humblest opinion, one of the most interesting and special places in the entire world.
The Blue Ridge Escarpment is a section of the Southern Appalachian Mountains that stretches from Georgia into Southwest Virginia. However, the section that I am most fascinated with is the beautiful stretch of mountains that graces the Upstate of South Carolina and Western North Carolina.
But, you may be asking, why is this area so special? How is this area unlike any other part of the Appalachian chain? Friends, let me tell you all about it. Follow me on a journey to one of the last truly rugged and wild places on earth — The Blue Ridge Escarpment.
Geology of the Blue Ridge Escarpment
The Blue Ridge Escarpment, or the Blue Wall, is nature's most undiscovered monument. Y’all, it keeps me up at night (in a good way) because I just love it so much. The Escarpment’s drastic elevation change creates some interesting geological formations in the mountains of North and South Carolina. Firstly, there are several large cliffs in the area — some reaching a staggering 300 ft. tall. These cliffs are a sight to behold, and they also provide nesting sites for peregrine falcons.
To better understand the Escarpment, I think it’s helpful for us to have a definition of what it actually is. In South Carolina’s Mountain wilderness, Thomas Wyche gives us this definition, “a steep cliff formed by erosion or by a fault.” He also says, “While other mountain ranges reach greater heights, most of them come to earth more gradually. In contrast, the Blue Ridge Escarpment ends abruptly, plummeting in dramatic 2,000-foot cliffs to the foothill region known as the Piedmont.”
Along with cliffs, there are also deep, beautiful gorges along the Escarpment, with Jocassee Gorges being perhaps the most notable. Jocassee is unlike any other place on earth, y’all. It also receives a high amount of annual rainfall compared to the rest of the region — about 67 inches yeach year. My forest goblin self often fantasizes about running off into those hills. These gorges are not only geologically significant, but they also provide the perfect environment for several rare plant and animal species. Jocassee specifically is widely known for its number of salamanders and the beautiful Oconee Bell.
Psssst, I have a whole blog about the Oconee Bell if you want to know more about this amazing flower!
The Escarpment area has another stunning geological feature — dozens of incredible waterfalls. Reading again from South Carolina’s Mountain Wilderness, “The combination of a vertical landscape and prodigious amounts of rain creates a mesmerizing effect. Nearly everywhere you look along the escarpment are scores of waterfalls dropping from sheer cliffs, cascading over boulder-strewn slopes, and splashing down mountainsides.”
If you’re interested in discovering some of these waterfalls for yourself, check out my latest waterfall blog.
Biodiversity in The Blue Wall
The Blue Wall’s unique features create the perfect conditions for rich biodiversity. The drastic elevation difference in such a short space, combined with the generally wet conditions, results in an incredible variety of flora and fauna. Notably, the Jocasse Gorges has the largest number of salamanders in the world. As mentioned before, it’s also home to the Oconee Bell, which only grows in the tri-state area around the Upstate of South Carolina, Western North Carolina, and Northeast Georgia.
Not often discussed, you’ll also find an interesting variety of hikers along the escarpment, nearly always on the hunt for a pretty flower or a new-to-them waterfall. If seen, do not approach them, do not feed them, and do not acknowledge them. (I kid, y’all, I kid.)
History and Cherokee Settlements of The Blue Wall
Along with its geological and ecological significance, there’s also a lot of interesting history to discuss along the Blue Ridge Escarpment, or Blue Wall. Shall we, y’all?
The Cherokee are the ones who give us the name “The Blue Wall” when referring to the Blue Ridge Escarpment — and the name is aptly given. Especially in the Upstate of South Carolina, the Appalachian Mountains rise like a great, blue wall in the distance. The Cherokee Nation once sprawled across Southern Appalachia, including parts of North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
I think the only way to truly do justice to the Blue Wall name is to show y’all what it would be in Cherokee. Several years ago, I had the pleasure of connecting with Mr. Garfield Long Jr., a Tribal Linguist with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He graciously translated “The Blue Wall” into the Cherokee language, or Tsalagi.
The Blue Wall
Na Sakonige Atsoyv
Nah sah-ko-nee-gey ah-cho-yun
Ꮎ ᏌᎪᏂᎨ ᎠᏦᏴ
Cherokee Translation by Garfield Long Jr., Tribal Linguist, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
The map above gives us a better glimpse of the expanse of Cherokee settlements in modern-day South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. A few familiar names may stick out to you, such as Tellico, Eastatoe, Keowee, Toxaway, Tomassee (now Tamassee), and Oconey (now Oconee).
Many of these settlements along the Keowee River are underwater today. The valleys that were once home to the Cherokee now sit beneath Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee, which were flooded in 1973 and 1970, respectively.
This second map shows us some additional Cherokee settlements, mainly situated along rivers in the area. If you look closely enough, you can also see the approximate location of Fort Prince George, which is now under Lake Keowee. This fort, built in 1753, was named after King George III. It was a principal trading post in the Carolinas for Cherokee “Lower Towns.”
These are rare photos of Fort Prince George that were taken before Lake Keowee was flooded.
I appreciate y’all taking the time to read more about this land that I love so dearly. The Blue Ridge Escarpment is home to me, and in my (incredibly biased) opinion, it’s one of the most special places on earth.
Happy wandering, y’all!
References:
Photos and maps from Museum of the Cherokee People
South Carolina’s Mountain Wilderness by: Thomas Wyche
For more photos and explorations, be sure to follow The Wandering Appalachian on Instagram and Pinterest! Be sure when you're discovering new places to practice Leave No Trace principles. Take only pictures, and leave only footprints. Happy wandering, y'all
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