The winter population of
Highlands is approximately 2,500 to 3,000 year round
and
28,000 four to six months a year.
Highlands is a popular
year round vacation destination. Hiking, rappelling, kayaking,
canoeing,
whitewater rafting, horseback riding, mountain bike riding are
popular pastimes.
For the not so
adventurous there are blocks of wonderful boutiques and twelve
fabulous fine dining restaurants,
many that are Wine Spectator Award recipients.
The average maximum
summer temperature in Highlands is 76 degrees
and the average
minimum winter temperature is 35 degrees.
The Highlands plateau is
surrounded by mountain peaks with views of unsurpassed beauty.
There are 47 mountain peaks in Macon County over 4000 feet
high. A few of the lofty peaks which surround
the town of Highlands are Shortoff Mountain ( 5050 ft.), Scaly
Mountain (4830 ft.) Satulah Mountain (4560 ft.)
Black Rock Mountain (4355 ft.) Big Fodderstack (4280 ft),
Brushy Face (4200 ft.)
and Little Yellow Mountain (4200 ft.)
Whiteside Mountain is
believed to be the oldest mountain in the world. Its 2,000
foot granite face is the
highest sheer precipice in the Eastern United States. From its
5,000 foot summit there is an
unobstructed view
in every direction and you can see Georgia,
North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee
With the exception of
the Pacific slopes of Washington and Oregon, Highlands records
the highest rainfall anywhere in the U.S., (average rainfall 79.47 inches)
Macon County, in which
Highlands is located, has 534 miles of fishing streams.
Over 750 species of
wildflowers including 24 species of violets have been found in
our area.
There are more than 30
species of salamanders in the surrounding area,
more than any other area
in the world.
186 species of birds
have been sighted in the area. Rare species include the red
breasted nuthatch and brown creeper.
The evening grosbeaks, red breasted grosbeaks, purple finches
and hummingbirds
are
the most popular according to birdwatchers.
The Golden Eagle can be
seen around Whiteside Mountain during migration season.
The Chattooga and
Cullasaja Rivers have their headwaters here. The Chattooga,
designated a National Scenic River,
begins near Whiteside Mountain and flows 500 miles via the
Savannah River to reach the Atlantic Ocean.
The Cullasaja River flows 1500 miles to the Gulf of Mexico via
the Little Tennessee, Tennessee,
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
There are six lakes and
many wonderful waterfalls in or near Highlands.
The Highlands Plateau
has a noticeable affinity with Canada. A great land bridge
connects it with the northern part of the North American
continent, causing Canadian type plants to grow.
When the glaciers
destroyed plant life over much of the continent, this region
became the refuge of many plants and when the ice age ended,
the plateau and adjacent mountains became a botanical treasury
from which the seeds of reforestation of North America were
drawn. This explains why there is such a startling resemblance
between the flora of our mountains and that of Eastern Asia.
(Japan and India are said to be the only other two areas in
the world that survived the glacial masses). It is in these
places that many of the old tertiary types of plants survived.
Certain species of plants are found only in Highlands, India,
Japan and China. Examples of this phenomenon are the tulip
tree, which grows 9,000 miles away in China; the flame azalea
and the rare Shortia.
The wealth of species of
plant and animal life is a result of unique location, high
rainfall,
high altitude and
lack of industrial and agricultural development.
The rock formation of
the plateau, commonly called granite or gneiss, consists of
crystalline igneous and metamorphic types of rock, overlaid by
a weathered material of mantle rock and clay. This “mantle
rock” is important as a source of ground water because it acts
as a sponge, absorbing precipitation and feeding water slowly
downward to existing fissures in the underlying bed rock where
it is stored in reservoirs.
A local analysis of water from
deep wells shows that its purity is equaled only by distilled
water.
Trivia facts are from
Highlands, North Carolina, a walk into the past
by Gert McIntosh
one of Highlands oldest and most
experienced brokerages. Signature Properties has agent expertise not
only in Highlands, but also Scaly Mountain, Cashiers, Lake Glenville,
Sky Valley and Rabun County GA, minutes from Highlands. We are committed
to making your purchasing experience both professional and enjoyable.
