As a west coast North America USAian, I'm not really familiar with the concept of peat, peat bogs, peat sod, heating turf or any of those things.

Questions:

How is a peat bog identified?

Does it "grow" back or are there huge pits where peat has been extracted?

How deep is the peat body? Six inches? Eighteen inches?

Do private people go out and 'gather' peat or is there a protected industry?

What is the smell like of burning peat?

Is peat burnt only in fireplaces or can it also be used in enclosed stoves?

Is peat cut in large squares or is it cut into the needed size?

I read about peat briquettes; are they as dense as coal?

Southeast Alaska has a great deal of muskeg, marshes where the water table is at the surface or slightly above. Would peat be found there?

Not that I'm planning to utilize peat but I really would like more information.