Sourland Mountain is a 17-mile ridge in central New Jersey whose steep rise above surrounding farmland makes it a mountain despite its modest height. Part of the broader Sourlands, it contains nearly 90 square miles of forest, the largest contiguous woodland in Central Jersey, and its rugged rock, clay soils, and wetlands have long hindered farming and development. Unami-speaking Lenape lived in the region before European settlement. Later, mills, logging, farms, quarries, and peach orchards shaped the landscape before forest returned to abandoned land. Formed about 200 million years ago, the ridge is now valued for its watershed, wildlife habitat, recreation, and notable human associations.

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Photo: Wikipedia · Public domain

Neshanic, New Jersey · USA