Tablelands

This is Newfoundland's old growth forest. These trees are subjected to such inhospitable growing conditions they are twisted and small. The rings are so dense you can't count them unless you look under a microscope. A cross section of one of these trees showed 250 rings. Most of the trees are Juniper and Tamarack (which in Newfoundland they also call Juniper)

The Tablelands are stark and reddish brown. They contrast the green hills around them. According to the Naturalists this is part of the earths mantle that is exposed. The rock is so full of minerals it is toxic to plant life. Only by the streams have some plants and small grasses gotten a foothold. Alder trees which are as big as small bushes grow along the old road. Up at a higher elevation there are carniverous plants like the Pitcher Plant and Sundew. There is no nourishment in the soil so they need to eat insects to survive. We really enjoyed this walk with the Naturalist. We learned so much I just wish I could remember it all.