Uwharrie Mountains
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The Uwharrie Mountains are an ancient mountain range located in North Carolina. The range lies in the counties of Randolph, Montgomery, Stanly, and Davidson, although its foothills stretch into Cabarrus, Anson, and Union. Formed approximately 500 million years ago, the Uwharries are the oldest mountain range in North America. Thought to have once peaked at some 20,000 feet, erosion has worn the Uwharries to a peak height of more than 1,119 feet above sea level as scaled by the NC Geodetic Survey. The highest point in the range is High Rock/Flat Swamp Mountain, located in South Western Davidson County. Once a coastal mountain range, plate tectonics has slowly raised the eastern seabed, until today the Uwharries are located in the Piedmont over 100 miles from the coast.
The mountains give their name to the Uwharrie National Forest. Once entirely cleared for timber and farmland, it was designated a U.S. National Forest in 1961 by John F. Kennedy. The area contains a diversity of wildlife, recreational facilities, and numerous Native American archeological sites.
In 1799, the discovery of gold at nearby Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County led to America's first gold rush. Morrow Mountain State Park is located in this mountain range.
The Carraway Mountains, a segment of the Uwharries are located in western Randolph County west of Asheboro. The mountains, are known for their ruggedness and steep terrain, quite uncommon for the Piedmont region.
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