Awesome day exploring the #plateau next to #Tennessee s #rainforest
Started off by visiting Cumberland Mountain State Park site of the seven arches bridge and the Cumberland Homesteads Projects of the New Deal era.
This bridge was constructed by men of the Civilian Conservation Corps circa 1935.
This and other projects would see 250 families settled onto the Cumberland Plateau during the height of the Great Depression 1/n
Also found a new #park! Or at least, new to us, and we've lived here for 30 years!
This property was privately owned until the 2010's and is now part of the #TNStatePark system. It also happens to host several #cave systems and hiking loops and some of the original Cumberland Homestead properties! (Around 250 were built, around 200 remain today).
It also happens to feature the cave that starts off the #SequatchieRiver ! 3/n
The #SequatchieRiver is a 120 mi river that starts on the #CumberlandPlateau at this #cave and flows all the way to my house! This river is responsible for the waterways of #Tennessee s #rainforest and serve the people, plants, and animals that make up our great #biodiversity.
Dye traces have shown that this cave system is fed by North America's largest #sinkhole. Walled on every side, #GrassyCove has valley walls 3k feet high all draining through the #MillCave on #BradyMountain 4/n
The girls were super excited to see the #cave entrance as we live on the far end of the #SequatchieRiver meaning the water we see here would be at our house later this afternoon!
It was also a great reprieve from the heat index of 100F+ we were dealing with. The water coming out of this cave system was probably ~50F(10C) and crystal clear.
This water way is fed from part of #DevilStepHollow and #GrassyCoveSaltPeter Caves, part of the longest system of caves in North America as well.
5/n
IAintShootinMis