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Jug Handle Trail: Location 26

This is an extremely stunted section of pygmy forest. The hardpan1 is less than a foot below the surface, so these trees grow very slowly. A tree with a trunk diameter of only half an inch and standing only two feet high may have fifty growth rings, each indicating a year of age - some of these trees are over a hundred years old. Note: A boardwalk was built at this location as a nature walk to protect the fragile growth as well as a handicap access trail.

1 hardpan (–pan´): a layer of hard soil cemented by almost insoluble materials that restrict the downward movement of water and roots.