♪ [gentle music ] ♪ Between South Carolina's piedmont and coastal plain, there lies a unique and ancient geographic region, The Sandhills!

Formed over a hundred million years ago, the sandhills are the result of prehistoric oceans that receded during the ice age.

What was once a shoreline a millinia ago, this area now has a very distinct and flourishing ecosystem that offers a one-of-a-kind view.

From the Sky!

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♪ The sandhills form a narrow band across 12 counties in South Carolina.

Because of the abundance of sand, rainwater drains rapidly through the soil in this region causing a desert-like or "xerophytic" habitat.

In some areas, the sand can reach depths of 200 feet.

Over millions of years, water that moved through the sand deposited minerals that created sandstone.

These giant rocks date back to the late cretaceous period and though rare, can cluster together and form unique hills.

Like Sugarloaf Mountain.

Towering over a hundred feet above the surrounding terrain, Sugarloaf Mountain is the tallest sandstone mountain in South Carolina.

A relatively easy hike grants climbers a sweeping, 360-degree view of the impressive 45,000 acre forest.

One of the more uncommon features of this ecosystem is that it's maintained by low-intensity, lightning-induced fires.

After a brush fire, the enriched the earth spawn's new growth and the forest is reborn in a matter of months!

In fact, the forest depends on fires in the sandhills.

Many plants, like wiregrass, would not germinate if it wasn't for the baptism of fire.

The longleaf pine also has a thick, fire-resistant bark making it one of the most prevalent tree species in the sandhills.

While the pine forest seems endless, it's just a small fraction of what it once was.

Before European settlement, longleaf pines were the predominant species covering 60% of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

Because the hardy tree became one of the most sought-after sources of timber, only 1% of the region supports the longleaf pine today.

Now threatened, many species that depend on this type of environment are at risk.

The most famous of all, is the red-cockaded woodpecker .

Living exclusively in open pine forests, the red-cockaded woodpecker makes its nests in trees around fresh flowing pine resin.

The sticky sap around the entrance to the nest helps to protect the eggs from predators.

Artificial nests like these were installed to supplement existing cavities and encourage the birds to expand to different areas.

Throughout the forest, white bands around the trees indicate the current and previous nests.

Biologists use them to monitor the species reproduction.

So they can be enjoyed by future generations in the years to come.

The Carolina Sandhills are an extraordinary example of biodiversity and natural beauty at its finest.

It's important that the ecosystem here remains preserved for the countless species that call it home and so that we can continue to take a look.

From the Sky!

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