CANARY IN THE COAL MINE: Can the Great Smoky Mountains be Saved Before the Canary Dies?

In June, environmental groups issued a report that listed the Great Smoky Mountains as the nation's most polluted park. Author Steve Kemp and photographer Adam Jones come together to create a testament to the beauty and importance of one of the United States' most-visited national park.

(PRWEB) July 12, 2004 -- The good, bad, beautiful and ugly all happen in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park which encompasses a half million acres in Tennessee and North Carolina. It is the canary in the coal mine for the future of Americas parklands. And especially now that the Great Smoky Mountains are considered the nations most polluted national park, according to a report issued by environmental groups last month, it would be a tremendous accomplishment to clean up the air before the canary dies.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has an air pollution problem because it is in the East, downwind from where so many Americans live.

If we could make steady improvements each year for the next 20 years, wed have something to be very proud of," says Steve Kemp, author of the newly released Great Smoky Mountains: Natural Wonder, National Park.

It is important to inform would-be travelers that, while summer time air pollution cuts down on visibility, the rest of the year is generally much clearer. More than nine million visitors are attracted to the Great Smoky Mountains each year, making it Americas most-visited national park.

Adds photographer Adam Jones, The park is stunning and I personally consider it the most photogenic park in the eastern U.S."

Those interested in a stunning testament to the beauty and importance of one of the United States most treasured natural places will be interested in "Great Smoky Mountains: Natural Wonder, National Park." Released in July 2004 by Tide-mark Press, Great Smoky Mountains explores the ecosystem of mountain and forest, the animals that inhabit it, and the Appalachian pioneers who arrived in the region to build a new life through essays by Steve Kemp. It also includes photos by widely published photographer Adam Jones.

The book can be ordered by visiting www.tidemarkpress.com, or by calling (800) 338-2508.

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