New Jersey’s nicknames, Garden State and Clam State, hint at its heritage of land and sea. Although it is the fifth smallest state, its land area is quite varied.
In the north is the New England Upland, which is called the Highlands in New Jersey. This hilly region occupies north-central New Jersey. From the south extend the rugged Appalachian Ridge and Valley region and the Piedmont. These regions of hills and valleys cover much of central and northwestern New Jersey.
The Ridge and Valley region is a land of long, steep mountain ridges. They are separated by valleys that run alongside each other like railroad tracks. Here is found 1,803-foot High Point, the highest point in New Jersey. Here also is the spectacular Delaware Water Gap, where the rugged Kittaninny Ridge is sliced by the mighty Delaware River.
The piedmont in New Jersey is different from the piedmont further south. In New Jersey the region consists of sedimentary rocks that have been eroded into low plateaus or basins.
What makes New Jersey special is a region that recalls both the land and sea—the Coastal Plain. This broad, flat region covers little of the other states in the Northeast. However, it covers about half of New Jersey. Here are found some of the finest, white sandy beaches in the world, many of which are backed by marshes and bays.
The Inner Coastal Plain—that portion farthest from the sea—boasts fertile soils that support farms. The Outer Coastal Plain is known for its sandy soil. Here is found the famous Pine Barrens, an area of forests, bogs, and marshes where few people live.
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
