Home
Map
Browse Map
Explore away
Explore Map Collection
Check out our basemaps
Print a Map
Plus
Generate a high-quality PDF
Field Guide
Field Guide
Discover local flora, fauna, geology, and more
Local Flora & Fauna
Learn the ecology of your area
Local Geology
Learn the geologic formation at your feet
Get Started
or
Sign In
Welcome
Sign up to start exploring the one-of-a-kind Natural Atlas Topo map
Continue with Apple
Or
Sign up with Email
Already have an account?
Sign In
Waterfalls
Rock Formations
Campgrounds
Trails
Boat Launches
National Parks
State Parks
Scenic Spots
Measure
You must upgrade to measure routes
Start Free Trial
0 ft
Max
0 ft
Copyright
© Natural Atlas
| Roads, Buildings
© OSM Contributors
|
Data Sources
Topo
Ecoregions
Public Lands
...
BASEMAPS
Default Weather
Temperature
Smoke
...
WEATHER
Western New England Marble Valleys
Ecoregion
in
Appalachian Mountains
in
NY
,
CT
,
MA
,
VT
Print Map
Generate High-Quality PDF
The Western New England Marble Valleys ecoregion includes the Vermont Valley in the north, which is a continuation of the larger Berkshire Valley or Stockbridge Valley in Massachusetts. It extends into northwest Connecticut and small portions of southeastern New York. This scenic lowland ecoregion of soluble carbonate rocks stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding highland areas of more resistant rock. The Marble Valleys are wedged between the Taconic Mountains (58a) on the west and the southern Green Mountains/Berkshire Highlands (58c) and Lower Berkshire Hills (58d) on the east. Its northern boundary with the Champlain Lowlands (83b) is not as distinct; it is marked by the submersion of limestone and limestone-derived soils under the glacial lake and marine sediments of Ecoregion 83. The climate of the Marble Valleys has milder winter temperatures and lower precipitation amounts than surrounding ecoregions. Most of the ecoregion is narrow, but widens to about 10 miles across in the southwest part of Massachusetts. With elevations of 500 to 1900 feet, the lowland has formed because of differential weathering and erosion of the calcitic and dolomitic marbles and limestone. Surficial materials of glacial drift are relatively abundant compared to that found in the surrounding highland areas. Due to faulting and folding, some of the resistant rocks of schist, gneiss, and quartzite that surround the ecoregion also crop out within it. Deep and well-drained limestone-derived soils are common throughout the valleys, typically loamy and coarse-loamy, mesic Inceptisols. The land cover consists of mixed and deciduous forest, pasture and cropland, and some extensive urban and residential land. The forests are generally transition hardwoods (maple-beech-birch, oak-hickory) and northern hardwoods (maple-beech-birch) depending on latitude, elevation, and aspect. Surface water alkalinity values are high due to the prevalence of limestone and marble bedrock. A few remaining natural areas in the valleys include some diverse swamps and calcareous fens that support a wide variety of fish, birds, mammals, and distinct flora, including a number of rare or endangered species.
—
EPA
Plants
Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria (species)
94
Observations
JAN - DEC
Onoclea sensibilis
SPECIES ·
“Sensitive Fern”
47
Observations
JAN - DEC
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus (species),
“Weymouth Pine”, “Soft Pine”, “Northern White Pine”
47
Observations
JAN - DEC
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana (species),
“Virginian Pokeweed”, “Pokeweed”, “Inkberry”, “American Nightshade”, “Cancer Jalap”, “Coakum”, “Garget”, “Pigeon Berry”, “Pocan Bush”, “Poke Root”, “Red Ink Plant”, “Redweed”, “Scoke”
44
Observations
JAN - DEC
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata (species),
“Jack-by-the-Hedge”, “Garlic Root”, “Hedge Garlic”, “Sauce-Alone”, “Penny Hedge”, “Poor Man's Mustard”
38
Observations
JAN - DEC
See All
Animals
Lithobates clamitans
SPECIES ·
“Green Frog”
7
Observations
JAN - DEC
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens (species)
5
Observations
JAN - DEC
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus (species)
4
Observations
JAN - DEC
Pickerel Frog
Lithobates palustris (species)
3
Observations
JAN - DEC
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina (species),
“North American Snapping Turtle”, “Snapping Turtle”
3
Observations
JAN - DEC
See All
Birds
Black-Capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus (species),
“Parus Atricapillus”, “Poecile Atricapilla”
53,456
Observations
JAN - DEC
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos (species)
53,400
Observations
JAN - DEC
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata (species)
45,642
Observations
JAN - DEC
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis (species)
39,495
Observations
JAN - DEC
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis (species),
“Common Cardinal”
38,884
Observations
JAN - DEC
See All
Insects
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus (species),
“Monarch”, “Milkweed”, “Common Tiger”, “Wanderer”, “Black Veined Brown”, “Common Tiger Wanderer”
299
Observations
JAN - DEC
Ceratomia undulosa
SPECIES ·
“Waved Sphinx”
18
Observations
JAN - DEC
Hemaris thysbe
SPECIES ·
“Hummingbird Clearwing”
14
Observations
JAN - DEC
Great Spangled Fritillary
Speyeria cybele (species)
11
Observations
JAN - DEC
Paonias Excaecatus
Paonias excaecata (species),
“Blinded Sphinx”
11
Observations
JAN - DEC
See All
Fungi
Polyporus michelii
SPECIES
3
Observations
JAN - DEC
Boletus suberosus
SPECIES
2
Observations
JAN - DEC
Rhytisma acerinum
SPECIES
2
Observations
JAN - DEC
Artomyces pyxidatus
SPECIES ·
“Clavicorona Pyxidata”
1
Observation
JAN - DEC
Stereum ostrea
SPECIES ·
“False Turkey-Tail”
1
Observation
JAN - DEC
See All
Taxonomy
Region
49
Ecoregion
Classified As
Ecoregion
Western New England Marble Valleys
Western New England Marble Valleys
Western New England Marble Valleys
Search
Search the outdoors
Map
Plans
Field Guide
Community
My Profile
My Trips
0
My Field Notes
0
Notifications
More