How winds and chance saved the redwoods of the Lost Coast (23 photos + 1 video)
In the heart of Northern California's Lost Coast, in a place called Shady Dell, lies a corner that looks like a fairytale set. It's a forest of redwoods with a bizarre, candelabra-like shape. 
These trees miraculously survived the massive logging that destroyed much of the surrounding old growth forest. 
Scientists believe their unique appearance was due to the salty sea breezes and fierce winds that blew in this area. The constant exposure to the elements caused the tree trunks to break again and again, but the redwoods' life force was stronger. 
They didn't die, but continued to grow, sending up new shoots from the damaged trunks. Thus, century after century, these bizarre shapes, reminiscent of giant candlesticks, were formed. Protectors of endangered forests admit that they have never seen redwoods so bizarrely curved anywhere else. 
Sugar Cane
In May and June, when walking through the Shady Dell forest, it's worth keeping your eyes peeled. Amazing plants, devoid of their usual green color, emerge through the carpet of leaves and needles. These are mycoheterotrophs—organisms whose lifestyle is shrouded in mystery. Among them, you can spot the pinkish shoots of sugar cane, the ghostly candles of spotted coral root, and delicate wintergreens. 
Corallorhiza maculata (Spotted Coralroot)
Unlike ordinary plants, which use chlorophyll and sunlight to create food from water and carbon dioxide, these pale understory dwellers behave differently. They do not photosynthesize, but obtain all the nutrients they need by parasitizing fungi in the soil. 
The unique, twisted shape of these native trees is not only captivating but also demonstrates their great vitality. During the period of extensive logging of California's redwoods, sawmills deemed these trees too deformed and unsuitable for processing. Thus, their beauty, born of harsh conditions, saved them from destruction. 
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