The Blue Ridge Mountains are a mountain range located in the Eastern United States. They extend approximately 550 to 615 miles (885 to 990 kilometers) southwest from southern Pennsylvania through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and end in northern Georgia. The range is part of the larger Appalachian Mountains and is known for its distinct bluish color caused by trees releasing isoprene. Major national parks within the Blue Ridge Mountains include Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The highest peak is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, which stands at 6,684 feet (2,037 meters), the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River.