Many might wonder why the mountains in Virginia and North Carolina are called the “Blue Ridge.” Look at the first photo and maybe that will answer the question. Haze often obscures some of the views, but it always adds a light blue color. The second image shows a portion of the winding road known as the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was originally constructed during the Great Depression in the 1930s as a federal government program. These views are near Rocky Knob over 3500 feet in elevation. Rail fencing is very common along the road, as are many parking areas with superb views of the valleys below.