Pine Barrens (New Jersey)

The Pine Barrens (about Kiefernödnis ), also known as the Pinelands, are a heavily forested, about 4500 km2 in the U.S. state of New Jersey, which extends from the center to the south of the country along the Atlantic coast.

Ecology

The name bar ( ie wasteland ) refers to the poor in nutrients sandy soil, but not on the ecological diversity of the area. The frequently ravaged by forest fires Pine Barrens are part of the nature reserve Pinelands National Reserve and have been designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 1983. Remarkably the Barrens are especially for their population of dwarf pitch pines ( Pinus rigida) and Virginiakiefern (Pinus virginiana ), and unique flora such as carnivorous plants.

Although the Pine Barrens near the big cities of New York City, Philadelphia and Atlantic City are, and despite the fact that running with the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway two on regional highways through the area, the Barrens are mostly rural area remained.

Historical economy

During the British colonial period, various sectors of the economy were located in the Pine Barrens. Iron was collected in the form of bog iron in rivers and furnaces in places such as Batsto, Ferrago, Hanover Furnace and a dozen other smelted. With the iron of these early huts British troops (1775-1783) and the British - American War (1812 ) were mainly supplied during the American Revolutionary War. The decline of the iron industry began in the mid -18th century, when it was easier and cheaper to be produced available iron in Pennsylvania. Another industry was the planting of cranberries ( German Large-fruited cranberry or cranberry ), which has importance to this day. In several places still exist ghost towns as a remnant of that time. Furthermore, there were smaller businesses as charcoal burning and glassworks, which were operated with varying success.

The Pine Barrens are said to be the home of the legendary figure of the Jersey Devils. Most sightings of this winged mythical creature occurred in or near the bar.