<P> The forest environment provides natural habitat for many plants, trees, and animals . </P> <P> The Blue Ridge Mountains have stunted oak and oak - hickory forest habitats, which comprise most of the Appalachian slope forests . Flora also includes grass, shrubs, hemlock and mixed - oak pine forests . </P> <P> While the Blue Ridge range includes the highest summits in the eastern United States, the climate is nevertheless too warm to support an alpine zone, and thus the range lacks the tree line found at lower elevations in the northern half of the Appalachian range . The highest parts of the Blue Ridge are generally vegetated in dense Southern Appalachian spruce - fir forests . </P> <P> The area is host to many animals, including: </P>

Where are the blue ridge mountains located on a map