In a recent meeting where we were discussing some of the great natural resources and historical locations we have in Cabarrus County, a dear friend of Visit Cabarrus, Ellen Whiteside of The Bed & Bike Inn, mentioned the Uwharrie National Forest (pronounced like saying the letters U – R – E). This led our discussion into the history of the mountain terrain in the counties surrounding us. Although I’ve lived in this area for many years, I have yet to thoroughly visit the Uwharrie recreational trail or Badin Lake. From everything I’ve heard and read about this pristine area, it’s next on my list of places to visit.
What surprised me most is that these “mountains”, many call them hills were once to the scale of the famed Himalayas. This relatively small park and one of the newest in the federal park system led the nation in its fascination with gold in the late eighteenth century.
The Uwharrie’s are one of the oldest mountain chains in North America. They once soared to heights of 20,000 feet (the peak of Kilimanjaro by comparison is 15,100 feet from its base). I came across two different theories as to how this mountain chain formed. Both theories are dramatic enough to create stunning visuals for an active imagination like mine. The first theory is that these mountainous peaks formed through ancient volcanic activity, piling molten lava and ash layer upon layer to form soaring terrains. The second, that was referenced more frequently than the first, is that the mountains are remnants of an ancient chain of islands crushed between the collision of North America and the African continental plates. Now I do realize this happened over the course of millions of years and not during a seismic hour long event…it’s still pretty cool to think about. I also learned that the mountain range was also the coastal line of North Carolina. How cool would that have been if I lived at the beach.
The mountains today have eroded to just around 1,000 feet high. Parts of the mountains are very rugged, compared to the gentle slopes of the surrounding area. Once upon a time this entire area was striped for mining and farmland. Now the trees and natural habitats have returned.
It still amazes me that everyday you do learn something new. It also still amazes me of the history and natural beauty that surrounds the area known as the world’s racing destination. So, sometime in the next few weeks I’ll pile the kids in the car, bribe my husband and take a trip through the Uwharrie National Preservation. Of course, I could always call Tim and Ellen from the Bed and Bike Inn to take me on the tour. They offer great tours along with a really nice tour of area vineyards. On second thought, I might just find a sitter and enjoy a sampling from the area vineyards from a scenic overlook.
