Introduction Page 2 |
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Where is the HBEF?
The HBEF is located near the small village of West Thornton, New Hampshire, and is about 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of Boston. It is operated by the Northeast Research Station, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, and is located in the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF). One of only two National Forests in New England, the WMNF extends from western Maine into central New Hampshire. The White Mountains are part of the long chain of Appalachian Mountains that run south to north along the eastern coast of the U.S and into Canada.
Among the highest on the east coast, many of the mountains in the WMNF are over 1500 meters (about 5,000 feet). The HBEF is located on the western edge of the WMNF, and is framed by two smaller mountains - Mt. Cushman at 977 meters (3205 feet), and Mt. Kineo at 1015 meters (3330 feet). The HBEF and West Thornton are located 15 minutes from the nearest large town, and over an hour away from the closest city (Concord, NH). While humans certainly have an impact on the ecosystem, the HBEF receives little human traffic and is located in a fairly pristine, rural area. Can you think of some benefits to having a research site located far from major human activity? What are some drawbacks to having such a remote site? For information on visiting the HBEF, click here.
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