NATURAL AREAS AND REGIONS 



415 



counties representing in their charac- 

 teristic features an advanced stage of 

 the sand ridge. Dominant trees are 

 blackjack, and longleaf pine. 



i. Upland pine forests. Undulating 

 areas principally of sandy loam soils 

 now chiefly under cultivation. 



2. Piedmont 



An extensive area in the center of 

 the state of broad, rolling, red clay hills 

 extending from about 500 ft. elevation 

 to 2500 ft. elevation. This area may be 

 divided into the Lower and Upper 

 Piedmont. 



Lower Piedmont. The lower Piedmont 

 areas are characterized by upland pine 

 forests (Pinus Taeda and P. echinata) 

 and valley slopes covered with deciduous 

 forest climax, in which beech, maple and 

 tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) 

 are important trees. 



Upper Piedmont. This includes the 

 upper part of the Piedmont and the 

 Asheville Plateau. It is characterized 

 by oak and hickory forest. In certain 

 areas characterized by sterile soils 

 shortleaf and Virginia pine (Pinus 

 echinata and Virginiana) are prominent. 



3. Blue Ridge Mountains 



The mountains generally range from 

 2500 to 6700 ft. in elevation with some 

 considerable areas above 6500 ft. For 

 convenience this area may be divided 

 into the Mountain Slopes and the 

 Mountain Summits. 



Mountain slopes. This includes the 

 area in the mountains from 2500 to 5500 

 ft., and is characterized by chestnut- 

 oak and hickory forests. Some of the 

 characteristic animals are the red 

 squirrel (Sciurus hudsonicus loquax}, 

 woodchuck (Marmota monax), star- 

 nosed mole ICondylura cristata), Caro- 

 lina junco, song sparrow, Baltimore 

 oriole, Canada warbler and ruffed 

 grouse. 



Mountain summits. 5500 to 6700 ft. 

 Characterized by spruce fir forests 

 (Picea rubra, Abies Fraseri). The fol- 

 lowing animals, cloudland deer mouse 

 (Peromyscus maniculatus nubiterrae) , 



Carolina red-backed vole (Evotomys 

 carolinensis), pine siskin, American 

 crossbill, winter wren, brown creeper, 

 red-breasted nuthatch, black-capped 

 chickadee, yellow-bellied sapsucker, 

 Metcalf salamander (Plethodon metcalfi) 

 and redleg salamander (Plethodon 

 shermani). 



II. NATURAL AREAS 



Coastal Plain. The principal points 

 of interest in the dune area are: Roa- 

 noke Island, Manteo and the Banks at 

 Nags Head about 40 mi. by boat from 

 Elizabeth City, Norfolk-Southern R. R., 

 or about 80 mi. by boat from Norfolk, 

 Va., through the inland water ways. 

 Shackleford Bank about 5 mi. by motor- 

 boat from Beaufort, Norfolk-Southern 

 R. R. Wrightsville Beach about 10 

 mi. by electric railroad from Wilming- 

 ton, Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard 

 Airline Railroads. Fort Fisher about 

 25 mi. (a) from Wilmington. Smith's 

 Island reached by motorboat from 

 Southport which is reached by River 

 Boat from Wilmington. 



Salt water sounds may be easily 

 reached at Beaufort, Norfolk-Southern 

 R. R., and at Wrightsville Beach, 

 Electric Line, 10 mi. east from Wilming- 

 ton. Fresh water sounds, 5 mi. east 

 from Moyock, Norfolk-Southern R. R., 

 25 mi. South of Norfolk, Va. 



Royal Shoal. (D4.) A small tidal 

 flat in Pamlico Sound. Nesting site 

 for royal, common and least terns, 

 laughing gulls, black skimmer and oyster 

 catchers. Preserved by the Audubon 

 Society. 8 mi. from Ocracoke which 

 may be reached (c) from Beaufort. 

 Norfolk Southern Railroad. 



Shackleford Bank. (C3.) A narrow 

 bank about 6 mi. long containing some 

 of the largest sand dunes along the 

 North Carolina Coast. One mi. from 

 Beaufort, N. C., on the Norfolk Southern 

 Railroad. 



Fort Fisher. (B4.) A small area at 

 the mouth of the Cape Fear River. 

 Should be preserved for its historical 

 interest as well as because of its great 

 ecological interest. Large areas of 

 tidal marshes, sand dunes, etc. About 

 25 mi. down the river from Wilmington, 

 Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard 

 Railroad. 



Smith Island. (B3.) Group of seven 



