Physical Setting

Area Occupied: 0.7 acres (0.3 hectares)

Stand Size:

Very small

Landscape Position:

Slopes facing southwest

Soils:

Thin, dry, and fertile with very high amounts of calcium, magnesium, and manganese, which all promote plant growth; much less acidic than other soils in the park (Ecobit: Defining Terms – Acidic and Basic)

Geology:

Limestone or dolomite bedrock (both are high in calcium; dolomite also contains magnesium)

The Red-cedar Limestone Glade requires limestone or dolomite bedrock. In Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, this type of bedrock is found only in western areas of the park. It’s on slopes facing southwest, which means the soil is subject to the drying effects of the direct rays of the sun. (Ecobit: How Topography Creates Microclimates)