The Pine Barrens is an ecological term that is used to described habitats that are comprised of sandy nutrient poor soils, acidic water and soil and fire adapted plant communities. ...
Why is it called the Pine Barrens?
The name pine barrens refers to the area’s sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil . Although European settlers could not cultivate their familiar crops there, the unique ecology of the Pine Barrens supports a diverse spectrum of plant life, including orchids and carnivorous plants.
Where are pine barrens?
The Pine Barrens is a large and heavily forested area stretches across the southern coastal plain of New Jersey and is renowned for its unspoiled nature, abundant, and diverse wildlife. Also known as the Pine Lands, it covers a huge area of over 1.1 million acres, or 22 percent of New Jersey’s land area.
Who lives in the Pine Barrens?
Living conditions in the “Barrens” were considered inhospitable, and those that lived there were considered to be the dregs of society: fugitives, poachers, moonshiners, runaway slaves or deserting soldiers . Often poor, pineys were forced to make a living in any way possible.
Why are the Pine Barrens important?
The “Pine Barrens” is the special ecosystem that is marked by acidic, low-nutrient water and soils – and all the species of plants and wildlife that are adapted to these challenging conditions. Today, as throughout our history, human beings depend on the health and vitality of the Pine Barrens’ ecosystems.
Can you drive through the Pine Barrens?
The Pine Barrens Scenic Byway is a nationally, recognized 130-mile route that takes travelers through classic Pine Barrens forests along wetlands and rivers as well as to unique Pinelands villages and important historic sites. ... The Pine Barrens Scenic Byway is one of eight in New Jersey.
How deep is the Blue Hole in New Jersey?
| Blue Hole | Max. depth 100 ft (30 m) |
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What makes Pine Barrens unique?
The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, is an enormous and all-encompassing tract of open space that covers 1.1 million acres, or 22 percent of New Jersey’s land area. ... The sandy soil that makes the Pine Barrens unique protects a natural aquifer, resulting in a number of waterways .
Are the Pine Barrens protected?
In 1993, an unprecedented convergence of environmentalists, business leaders and government representatives produced the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act. This Act, initiated in and passed by the New York State Legislature and signed into law by the governor, protects the Pine Barrens forever .
Are there towns in the Pine Barrens?
Towns of the Pine Barrens, including Chatsworth, Hammonton, Barnegat, Tuckerton and more . Here in the Pine Barrens, shopping is a different experience than in large cities and other urban areas. ... The Pine Barrens has some wonderful towns with small shops and antique centers crammed with treasures.
Are there wolves in the Pine Barrens?
The Pine Barrens today is home to 34 species of mammals. The Pine Barrens lost its top predators black bears, cougars and wolves, long ago to hunting and trapping, though black bears are still seen occasionally. ...
What animals live in the New Jersey Pine Barrens?
Animals that inhabit the Pinelands include bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, screech owls, white tailed deer, black bear, flying squirrels , almost sixty species of amphibians and reptiles, and over ninety species of freshwater fish.
How were the Pine Barrens formed?
It’s believed that this unique area formed initially during the Pleistocene Epoch (from about 1.8 million years ago to about 12,000 years ago) when multiple cycles of glaciation scoured the underlying bedrock and deposited sand and debris over present day New England, New York (including Long Island) and New Jersey.
What types of plants are there in the New Jersey Pine Barrens forest?
The understory of Pine Barrens forests and stream-side vegetation are dominated by members of the Heath family of plants. Heaths of the Pine Barrens include Sheep and Mountain Laurels, Blueberries and Cranberries, Swamp Azalea, Bear Berry and Wintergreen.
What counties are in the Pine Barrens?
General Information About the Pine Barrens
Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Atlantic Counties . This vast region is 45 percent, or about 493,000 acres, publicly owned.
How many square miles is the NJ Pine Barrens?
www.nj.gov/pinelands
State-designated Pinelands Area, created by the New Jersey Pinelands Protection Act of 1979, encompasses 938,000 acres, which includes portions of 7 counties and all or part of 53 municipalities. The State Pinelands Area is 1,465.6 square miles — 19 percent of the total area of New Jersey.
