Water Within the Park

A composite of two photographs showing clean and clear park waters. A delicate trout water stream running through forested park land (left) and a beautiful cascading park waterfall (right).

National Park Service Photos

 

Correct!

Distilled water is virtually free of minerals and ions that we might find in tap water. In the Smokies, our streams are relatively pure (like distilled water) due to the fact that they all emerge from springs and groundwater seeps, most of which flow over relatively insoluble sandstone. Since sandstone does not readily dissolve in water as opposed to a rock like limestone, few minerals are dissociated into the water, thus the water of Great Smoky Mountains National Park most resembles distilled water.

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