By Richard Primack
“The life in us is like the water in a river. It may rise this year higher than man has ever known it, and flood the parched uplands.” Henry David Thoreau in Walden.
The New Jersey Pine Barrens is a unique coastal ecosystem covering 1700 square miles in southern New Jersey, east of Philadelphia. The area is characterized by extensive stands of pine trees, sandy soils, and frequent ground fires. Due to its unique ecology, it is home to many unusual wildflowers. In recent decades, the region has become an important location for blueberry cultivation and a valuable source of fresh water.
Photo 1: Stands of pine trees cover the region.
The region is also a premier site for canoeing and kayaking, such as on the Batsto River, a narrow brown-water river which winds through the Pine Barrens and is bordered by abundant wildflowers.
Photo 2: The Batsto River is great for canoeing.
Photo 3: The water is strongly brown in color.
Photo 4: Joe Pye weed and other wildflowers beautify the edges of the river.
No comments:
Post a Comment