New Jersey - Nature and Scientific Wonders
- By Smithsonian.com
- Smithsonian.com, November 06, 2007, Subscribe
Great Outdoors
Adventures abound across New Jersey. Enjoy vast rural farmland and fresh produce in every region and you’ll quickly see why New Jersey is known as the Garden State. Take an eco-tour of a barrier island, hike the numerous trails within the 1.1 million-acre Pinelands Reserve, or simply absorb the beauty of the stunning mountains and wandering rivers.
New Jersey is also famous for its agritourism. With 790,000 acres devoted to farming, the Garden State is home to more than 2,000 farms offering family and educational opportunities throughout the year. Whether it’s picking strawberries and blueberries in the spring, wine tasting at scenic vineyards and watching exciting equine competition in the summer, hayrides to pick your own pumpkins in the fall or cutting down your family’s Christmas tree in the winter, there are four seasons of fun-filled activities on New Jersey’s beautiful farms.
Wildlife
New Jersey’s diverse geography provides a home to an incredible amount of wildlife—nearly 500 species of vertebrates alone live in the state. Check out the Pinelands National Reserve, the country’s first National Reserve. Some one million acres—22% of New Jersey’s land area—are dedicated to protecting the plants, animals, and environment of this area, the largest open space on the Mid-Atlantic seaboard. Along the coast of southern New Jersey, find the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, 43,000 acres of coastal habitat for birds and other wildlife set aside by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Perhaps one of New Jersey’s best-kept secrets is The Meadowlands District in Lyndhurst and the surrounding areas within the bustling Gateway Region. Featuring a beautiful urban ecosystem and home to more than 265 different species of birds, you’d never know it’s located within the most populated metropolitan area in the United States.
Waterfront (Camden)
Along the Camden Waterfront, the Adventure Aquarium features nearly 200,000 square feet of sea life and wildlife. Marvel at 20 species of African birds in a free-flight aviary, or surround yourself with sharks in a 40-foot suspended walk-through tunnel.
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