photo #7986911

DID YOU KNOW??? The distinctive hue that inspired the Blue Ridge Mountains' name comes from the incredible diversity of trees and other vegetation the range is known for. Lower elevations offer deciduous forests of oak, sourwood, hickory, maple, yellow birch, yellow buckeye, American beech, and tulip poplar. At elevations above 4,500 feet, evergreens such as Fraser fir, balsam, and red spruce are more abundant. These trees release volatile hydrocarbons such as isoprene, which interacts with other molecules in the atmosphere to create the distinctive blue haze that envelopes the Blue Ridge Mountains. Check out the gorgeous color palette of blue shades featured in this photo, which was shared by the Blue Ridge Parkway!