1976 Map of Clingmans Dome

About this map

Clingmans Dome stands as the central landmark of this high-elevation mountain environment along the North Carolina and Tennessee border. Produced from aerial photography taken in the spring of 1976, this orthophotograph highlights the complex drainage patterns and sharp ridgelines of the Great Smoky Mountains before the seasonal foliage obscured the terrain details. The image reveals a network of prominent geographic spines including Noland Divide, Fork Ridge, and Thomas Ridge, all radiating from the high peaks. This specific photographic survey by the Geological Survey and the State of North Carolina captures the summit at Mt Collins and the surrounding forest cover, providing a clear visual representation of the land surface and topographic relief in a period of active natural resource management and community development in the region.