6 Fast Facts About the Pine Barrens
Photo by: Brielle Priest. Instagram: @brielle_priestThe Pine Barrens is an enigmatic forest mostly untouched by man that stretches across the middle of New Jersey. Get to know the Pine Barrens with six fast facts on what makes it a unique place.
FACT ONE – The Pine Barrens Is Larger Than You’d Think
The Pinelands National Reserve is 1.1 million acres and makes up 20% of New Jersey’s land mass. The Pine Barrens stretch through 7 South Jersey counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean). It is bigger than Yosemite or Grand Canyon National Park.
FACT TWO – The Pine Barrens’ Water Is The Purest
The water is brown, but it is the most chemically pure, bacterially sterile water. The U.S government describes it as being close to glacial water. Pine Barrens’ water was valued by sailors for long journeys at sea since it stayed potable longer than any water. It gets its brown “tea” color thanks to the tannins from cedar trees.
FACT THREE – The Pine Barrens Gets America’s First Designation
It is America’s first National Reserve – an area of protected resources. Congress established it as a National Reserve in 1978.
FACT FOUR – Quaker Bridge Still Exists
Quaker Bridge was built in 1772 by Quakers to cross a stream to reach a yearly meeting in Little Egg Harbor. Some stories say Quakers built it after several people drowned in the Mullica River.
FACT FIVE – The Top Destinations In The Pine Barrens
Batsto Village – (Hammonton) 18th Century preserved bog ironworks village and nature center. Double Trouble State Park – (Lacey Township) a company town from the 1700s with a saw mill and cranberry packing house. Atsion Mansion – (Vincentown) a 14-room mansion restored to how it was in 1826. Weymouth Furnace – (Hamilton Township) trails and ruins of an 1800s ironworks village. Estell Manor – (Estell Manor) it has tons of ruins since it once was a massive ammunition factory complex during WWI. Smithville – (Mt. Holly) a quaint historic town with cobblestone roads and foot bridges.Mount Misery – (Brendan T. Byrne State Forest) not a mountain, but it has 25 miles of marked trails.
FACT SIX – The Legend of the Jersey Devil May Go Back Further Than The 1700s
The Lenni-Lenape tribes refer to the Pine Barrens as Popuessing, or “Place of the dragon.” The most famous fabled resident in the Pinelands is the Jersey Devil.
References:
Click here if you’d like to learn more about The Jersey Devil.
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