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Are you serious? You've never been to the Northwest, have you? The coastal PNW forests are known for being green, alive, and active all year round. Remember, it rarely freezes in winter near the water. The higher elevations and interior areas get snowfall, of course, but the lower elevations remain green and lush.
I'm not sure what "Touching Spirit Bear" wilderness even means, but the forests in the Northwest range from temperate rainforest, with cedars, redwoods, douglas firs, and hanging moss, to dry pine forests that are vastly different in character. There are also areas of deciduous forest (aspens, big-leaf maples, for example). So, no they are not all alike, and only someone who'd never seen them would ever think so.
The coastal PNW forests are only evergreen because the trees are conifers; basically, a forest full of "Christmas trees." That sort of evergreen does not give off the exotic, other-worldly feel associated with the broadleaf-evergreens of the Southeast US. Instead, it just gives off a typical American woodland feel (like seen in Touching Spirit Bear).
There are different kinds of forest, yes, but in each kind, you will find that the same 1-2 trees reign dominate, and that biodiversity is low. You will find more types of trees in a single acre of Southeast US forest than you will in much of the PNW.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bartonizer
Gotta laugh at this one. While the population around here may be lacking a bit in ethnic diversity and the weather in some areas remarkably predictable, the scenery is certainly far from boring.
Again, I lived in the Southeast for most of my life, so I can easily compare my experiences. Currently, I can walk from my house down to Bellingham Bay on the Salish Sea, where I can see numerous mountain ranges, as well as seals, otters, and a pack of transient killer whales were photographed last week. I frequently see bald eagles and other interesting birds of prey, including a recent sighting of a Great Horned Owl. I can then walk on a trail from the water that looks like some type of prehistoric hobbit land to exotic old growth forest stands on several ridges of the Chuckanut Mountains (which are technically Cascade Foothills but are as large as typical eastern mountains), where coyotes, cougars and black bears live. If I drive just thirty miles east, I can go on a hike from a lush rain forest to alpine scenery and literally walk out onto a glacier on the side of a volcano in a wilderness and next to one of the least visited national parks in the country, with mountain views that rival anything in the lower 48 states. Along the way, abundant flora and fauna exist, including (luckily, not often) grizzly bears and grey wolves. As to your comment about year-round nature being limited to the southeast, I can only assume that you're not really familiar with this region and the moderating effect of the Pacific Ocean on the climate.
While I understand what you're saying about certain zones having limited diversity- like Ponderosa stands- A) It doesn't apply to all type of forest- lowland and foothill forests, for example, have a tremendous amount of diversity and B) even the landscapes with limited diversity are literally right next to completely different biomes that frequently feature completely different plant and animal life. So again, a relatively short hike or drive can take you to completely different scenery and wildlife.
As much as I liked the change in scenery driving from the NC Piedmont to the mountains or the beach, 100 miles as the crow flies from the coast to lowland rain forest through glaciated alpine peaks and back down through into shrub-steppe landscapes and into the desert is hard to beat.
It sounds like you've never really done much exploring in the area. If you're ever interested in visiting, I'll be glad to give you sample itineraries that will display the diversity in the region!
That's nice, but the PNW is still very low in biodiversity compared to the Southeast, and the landscape isn't as active year-round as the Southeast is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sav858
Much of the Deep South's forests look dead and dormant in winter. Brown, barren, no leaves, etc... compared to the lush, green evergreens of the PNW. And have fun trying to enjoy those forests in the summer with that oppressive heat and humidity that is unlivable w/o indoor AC and all the violent/deadly weather there.
i think the nature/ scenery of western SC and northern AL holds it own with the pacific northwest. this comparison would make more sense if you included NC and VA and TN. Mountaineous areas.
i think the nature/ scenery of western SC and northern AL holds it own with the pacific northwest. this comparison would make more sense if you included NC and VA and TN. Mountaineous areas.
Nope, just Florida and a thin coastal sliver look like that year round. The rest looks brown, dead, and leafless in the winter because of how cold it gets.
Cool alligators, another deadly thing to worry about besides the weather in the Deep South. Then that nasty, inhospitable oppressive summer weather is the perfect breeding ground for the Zika virus now! Good thing every place has AC so you can hide indoors as we all now how unlivable the Deep South is without it, especially Houston!
Nope, just Florida and a thin coastal sliver look like that year round. The rest looks brown, dead, and leafless in the winter because of how cold it gets.
Cool alligators, another deadly thing to worry about besides the weather in the Deep South. Then that nasty, inhospitable oppressive summer weather is the perfect breeding ground for the Zika virus now! Good thing every place has AC so you can hide indoors as we all now how unlivable the Deep South is without it, especially Houston!
All 64 parishes in Louisiana has pine trees. And our winters are really short compared to the PNW.
The coastal PNW forests are only evergreen because the trees are conifers; basically, a forest full of "Christmas trees." That sort of evergreen does not give off the exotic, other-worldly feel associated with the broadleaf-evergreens of the Southeast US. Instead, it just gives off a typical American woodland feel (like seen in Touching Spirit Bear).
There are different kinds of forest, yes, but in each kind, you will find that the same 1-2 trees reign dominate, and that biodiversity is low. You will find more types of trees in a single acre of Southeast US forest than you will in much of the PNW.
That's nice, but the PNW is still very low in biodiversity compared to the Southeast, and the landscape isn't as active year-round as the Southeast is.
Seriously? Where do you get your information? Much of the lowland forests look like that west of the Cascades. I could show you pictures all day long, but you clearly won't listen to what I say or look at what I post. And it's now obvious that you've clearly never visited this area! Seriously, come up for a visit. It sounds like you missed a lot in your online investigation of the region.
Now, a few pictures from the area. I'll limit it to my county, but you get the picture, literally. Just a tad more spectacular than Northern AL or Western SC. Anything close by that resembles these landmarks? I'll wait.
Again, I've lived a significant part of my life in both places. There are certain things I love- even scenery-wise- about the south. Part of my heart will always be in the Blue Ridge. They're pretty places, but give me a break. Again, most of the pictures I posted (with the exception of the Hoh Rain Forest) are of landforms within 30 miles of my house. Expand it out to the entire region and you'll see things like the Oregon Coast, the Columbia River Gorge, Hell's Canyon, Lake Chelan Crater Lake, the Blue Mountains, the Selkirks, the high desert, etc. etc. etc. It's absolutely astounding, and not really comparable to the deep south.
Last edited by bartonizer; 05-18-2016 at 11:53 PM..
The coastal PNW forests are only evergreen because the trees are conifers; basically, a forest full of "Christmas trees." That sort of evergreen does not give off the exotic, other-worldly feel associated with the broadleaf-evergreens of the Southeast US. Instead, it just gives off a typical American woodland feel (like seen in Touching Spirit Bear).
There are different kinds of forest, yes, but in each kind, you will find that the same 1-2 trees reign dominate, and that biodiversity is low. You will find more types of trees in a single acre of Southeast US forest than you will in much of the PNW.
That's nice, but the PNW is still very low in biodiversity compared to the Southeast, and the landscape isn't as active year-round as the Southeast is.
For me the geogrophy/typogrophy of PNW is an easy win, the ecology I can see as being a toss up though the PNW is more climatically diverse so there are a lot more biomes so I would still give the edge out to the PNW, however from the photos you have shown I think that the South, at least the coast looks amazing. But when I visited New Bern it didn't look nearly as amazing, but still very beautiful and charming, I also saw a lot of magnolias growing wild in the forests.
Though the PNW does have its own broad leaf evergreens, especially in southern OR.
There are also many that have become naturalized, the most prolific being English Ivy, Cherry Laurel, English Holly and Himalayan Blackberry.
Here is a picture of English ivy taking over a forest
Also the southern Oregon coast is very mild and can support many subtropical plants such as these palms
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
And speaking about animals, sure the south has the alligator, but I'm pretty sure the PNW has just as many if not more megafauna (animals weighing more than 90 lbs).
Lake Jocassee, one of the two 'Lake Tahoes of the East'
Table Rock, not too far from Lake Jocasse
Pretty Place Chapel near Caesars Head, best church in the country
Last edited by ClemVegas; 05-19-2016 at 12:49 AM..
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