Hikers visit Dry Falls in Franklin County.

Put ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until puffed and golden. Remove from oven, and let stand for 5 minutes. With a flexible spatula, remove strata to

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A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

Six years after the discovery of the largest uncut emerald ever found in the United States in Hiddenite, what would become the largest cut emerald in North America is found

Food

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

Six years after the discovery of the largest uncut emerald ever found in the United States in Hiddenite, what would become the largest cut emerald in North America is found

An Emerald Empire

Six years after the discovery of the largest uncut emerald ever found in the United States in Hiddenite, what would become the largest cut emerald in North America is found on a property in Alexander County. Weighing 64 carats and styled after the emerald once owned by Catherine the Great of Russia, the gem is

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Six years after the discovery of the largest uncut emerald ever found in the United States in Hiddenite, what would become the largest cut emerald in North America is found on a property in Alexander County. Weighing 64 carats and styled after the emerald once owned by Catherine the Great of Russia, the gem is dubbed the Carolina Emperor. Three more emeralds, one weighing 1,225 carats, would be found on the same property in March 2011. All four Alexander County finds are donated to the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.