Natural Information
Norris Dam State Park is located entirely within the Appalachian Ridge-and-Valley Range, which is characterized by narrow elongated ridges flanked by broad, fertile river valleys. The low rolling hills that dominate the park's terrain are underlain by sedimentary rocks— namely limestone, dolomite, shale, and sandstone— which were formed roughly 400-500 million years ago during the Paleozoic Era.
Most of Norris Dam State Park is coated by an Appalachian oak-pine forest, much of which is second-growth, although significant old growth stands remain in nearby Chuck Swan State Forest. Oak stands comprise the majority of the forest, and consist chiefly of blackjack oak, chestnut oak, post oak, scarlet oak, and red oak in drier areas and white oak and black oak in more moist areas. The most common evergreens are the shortleaf pine and the loblolly pine. Less common tree species include red maple, yellow poplar, several species of hickory, and black gum and sweet gum. Beech, dogwood, and sourwood are found in the understory.
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