The Neskowin Ghost Forest: A Mystical Guardian of the Oregon Coast (24 photos + 1 video)

On the Tillamook Coast in Oregon, about a hundred ancient, rotted tree stumps rise from the sand and seawater, as if standing eternal vigil.





Dubbed the Neskowin Ghost Forest, they stand as eerily beautiful reminders of the mighty Sitka spruce trees that stood here for two millennia.



For centuries, these ancient stumps lay hidden beneath a layer of sand. Only for a few decades did they briefly emerge from the surf, remaining a semi-real local legend. However, in the winter of 1997-1998, the coast was hit by powerful storms that washed away the sand and revealed the natural wonder buried beneath.





Geologists speculate that the ancient trees, carbon-dated to be about 2,000 years old, were toppled during a massive earthquake that struck the Cascadia subduction zone in 1700. The tremors pushed the forested land into the intertidal zone. When seawater rushed in, it likely nearly destroyed the trees, leaving only their trunks buried in mud. This silty prison prevented decay and preserved the forest remains for future generations.



Before their underwater destruction, these majestic trees reached heights of 45 to 60 meters. Today, the remains of these giants share the beach with a variety of marine life. The mystical forest is exposed at low tide, and when the water recedes to its minimum in summer, more and more ancient stumps appear on the surface.





[thumb]https://cn22.nevsedoma.com.ua/p/29/2917/237_files/b52361e7b a5336a771f569bc385c961a.webp[/thumb]









[thumb]https://cn22.nevsedoma.com.ua/p/29/2917/237_files/6540b2627 9aa6b3cbe0247bf4da41406.webp[/thumb]









[thumb]https://cn22.nevsedoma.com.ua/p/29/2917/237_files/0b8b5ede ae01761655f65be4e744316e.webp[/thumb]









[thumb]https://cn22.nevsedoma.com.ua/p/29/2917/237_files/a1ad5cb4 f7899bc339b00cacbbc36a76.webp[/thumb]