Hearts Content Scenic Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hearts Content Scenic Area |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
|
|
_(8929491726).jpg)
Old-growth trees protected within Hearts Content Scenic Area.
|
|
 Hearts Content Scenic Area
Location in Pennsylvania
|
|
| Location | Watson, Warren, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 120 acres (49 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,893 ft (577 m) |
| Established | 1934 |
| Named for | idiom "to one's heart's content" |
| Operator | United States Forest Service |
| Designated: | 1973 |
Hearts Content National Scenic Area is a special place in northwestern Pennsylvania. It's home to a rare old-growth forest, which means it has very old trees that have never been cut down. This forest is one of the few places in the northeastern United States where you can still find huge, ancient white pine trees. It's a protected area inside the Allegheny National Forest.
Contents
History of Hearts Content
How the Forest Was Saved
Long ago, many forests in this area were being clear-cut. This means all the trees were chopped down. But a company called the Wheeler and Dusenbury Lumber Company owned about 20-acre (8.1 ha) of this old forest. They kept it safe from 1897 until 1922.
In 1922, they gave this special forest to the United States Forest Service. Then, in 1934, the head of the Forest Service decided to protect it. He made the old-growth trees and 102 acres (0.41 km2) of land around them a National Scenic Area. This means it's a place valued for its natural beauty. In 1973, it became a National Natural Landmark, which is another way to recognize its importance.
Studying the Forest
Early Scientific Research
In 1930, a scientist named H.J. Lutz studied Hearts Content. His work was one of the first times anyone carefully measured and analyzed the plants in an old-growth forest. His study is still important for people who study nature today.
Lutz believed that the white pine trees, which are all about the same age, grew after a big natural event in the 1600s. This event could have been a fire, possibly started by Native Americans during the Beaver Wars. After this event, the white pine trees grew tall. But since then, new white pine trees haven't grown well under the shade of the older trees.
Changes Over Time
Later, another scientist named Whitney went back to the same spots Lutz studied. Whitney looked at how the forest had changed over 50 years. They found that a lot of white-tailed deer in the area have eaten many young trees and plants. This makes it harder for new trees and other plants to grow and replace the older ones.
Plants and Trees
Types of Trees in the Forest
Hearts Content is known for a special type of forest. It has Eastern hemlock trees, white pine trees, and other northern hardwood trees. The old-growth part of the forest is between 122 acres (49 ha) and 150 acres (61 ha) big.
The most famous part is a 20 acres (8.1 ha) section with very tall white pine and hemlock trees. Many of these trees are huge! Their trunks are often more than 40 inches (102 cm) wide, and they can be taller than 140 feet (43 m). Most of the white pine trees are between 300 and 400 years old.
Other Plants and Challenges
You'll also find many American beech trees in the forest. However, these trees are often sick with something called Beech Bark Disease. This disease is caused by tiny insects and a fungus.
Because there are so many deer, a plant called Hay-scented fern covers much of the forest floor. The deer eat most of the other plants, but they don't like this fern. This means the fern grows everywhere.
Fun Activities
Exploring Hearts Content
Hearts Content is a great place to visit! You can walk on an easy, 1-mile (1.6 km) loop trail that goes right through the old-growth forest. It's a perfect way to see the giant trees up close.
There's also a picnic area where you can eat lunch and a campground if you want to stay longer. Several other hiking trails start nearby. If you like winter sports, a 6.4-mile (10.3 km) cross-country ski trail goes through the area. This trail follows old railroad paths. There are also many private camps in the area.
