Pine Barrens
| Pine Barrens | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
|
|||
| Location: | New Jersey , United States | ||
| Surface: | 4,500 km² | ||
_location_map.svg)
The Pine Barrens (about Kiefernödnis ), also known as Pinelands , are a heavily forested, about 4500 square kilometers large area in the US state of New Jersey , which extends from the center to the south of the country along the Atlantic coast.
ecology
The name Barrens (meaning wasteland ) refers to the nutrient-poor sandy soil, but not to the ecological diversity of the area. The Pine Barrens, which are frequently affected by forest fires, are part of the Pinelands National Reserve and were designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1983 . The Barrens are particularly notable for their populations of dwarf pitch pines ( Pinus rigida ) and Virginia pines ( Pinus virginiana ) as well as unique flora such as carnivorous plants .
Although the Pine Barrens are near major cities, New York City , Philadelphia, and Atlantic City , and despite the fact that the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway run through the area, the Barrens are largely rural remained.
Historical economy
During the British colonial period , various industries were located in the Pine Barrens . Iron was in the form of bog iron collected in rivers and melting furnaces in places such as Batsto, Ferrago, Hanover Furnace and a dozen other smelted . The iron from these early huts was mainly used for the British troops during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and the British-American War (1812). The iron industry began to decline in the mid-18th century, when easier and cheaper iron became available in Pennsylvania . Another branch of the economy was the planting of cranberries (German large-fruited cranberries ), which is still important today. In several places, ghost towns still exist as holdovers from that time. There were also smaller businesses such as charcoal burners and glassworks , which were operated with varying degrees of success.
The Pine Barrens are believed to be home to the legendary Jersey Devil . Most of the sightings of this winged mythical creature occurred in or near the Barrens.
Web links
- New Jersey Pinelands Commission - Official Website