Pine Barrens

Pine Barrens, wilderness area, southern New Jersey, 3,400 sq km (1,300 sq mi) in extent. It is largely covered by a forest of pine, oak, and juniper and contains a diversity of flowering plants and wildlife. An unusual feature is two extensive tracts of unique pygmy pine forests, reaching maximum heights of 1.5 m (5 ft). Soils are sandy, and much of the area is underlaid by a vast groundwater reserve. Bog iron was mined here from the mid-18th to mid-19th century. Part of the area is now protected in a state nature preserve, and several other areas are designated state forests.