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2011 Map of Little Switzerland

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Little Switzerland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Little Switzerland serves as the focal point of this high-elevation landscape, where the Blue Ridge Pkwy snakes through a complex series of mountain gaps and ridges. The map highlights the area's geological and engineering heritage, from the commercial legacy of the Blue Ridge Gemstone Mine and Campground to the intricate network of tunnels—including the Little Switzerland Tunnel and the Quinn Knob Tunnel—that facilitate passage through the Blue Ridge.

Strategic high points like the Woods Mountain Lookout Tower oversee a region defined by steep drainages like Grassy Creek and Armstrong Creek. Family history is preserved in several remote burial grounds such as Snow Hill Cemetery and the Lonon Cemetery, while the presence of the North Carolina State Fish Hatchery near the North Fork Catawba River indicates the specialized land use in this part of Mitchell County. A distinctive rail or road feature known as The Loop illustrates the extreme measures required to navigate the local topography.