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The Cathance Heath - Click here for Heath Tour Map
Bogs are one of North America's most distinctive kinds of wetlands. They cover approximately 3.9% of the continent's land mass. They are characterized by spongy peat moss, acidic waters, and a floor of a thick carpet-like substanc, which is called sphagnum moss. This type of moss grows in most of the bogs in the Eastern region. Bogs receive all or most of their water from precipitation rather then from runoff, groundwater or streams. They also do not let any water out as the bog grows over time. As a result, bogs are low in the nutrients needed for plants to grow.
There are two primary ways that a bog can develop: bogs can develop as sphagnum grows over a lake and slowly fills it in over time or bogs form as sphagnum moss blankets dry land and prevents water from leaving the surface. Over time many feet of acidic peat deposits build up in bogs of either origin. The unique physical and chemical features of a bog result in the presence of plant and animal communities that demonstrate many special adaptations to low nutrient levels, water lagged conditions, and acidic waters.
In northern Europe, bogs are also called heaths. It used to be believed that the heaths were the the gloomy retreats of society's outcasts. They became known as the ''heathens'' and the ''bogeymen''. Bogs were also the ancient burial sites of over 600 human sacrifices to the goddess of fertility. Their bodies were preserved by the bog's acidic water and lack of oxygen for almost 2000 years.
Most bogs in Maine are not ''true bogs'' ( or eccentric ) they actually are considered fens or what is called a ''heath''. These wet lands are determined by the flora that they support. (As opposed to vernal pools which are determined by there fauna).Many of these heaths may in time develop into true bogs.
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