Where are the densest forests? The most beautiful tropical forests on the planet
A forest is an area with a high frequency of trees. Forests cover approximately 9.4 percent of the Earth's surface (or 30 percent of the total land area), although they once covered a much larger area (about 50 percent of the total land area). Apart from the large number of forests that are well-known tourist attractions in the world, there are also small and very unusual forests that are less known to the general public.
1. Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar
is a famous group of baobab trees growing along a dirt road between the towns of Morondava and Belon"i Tsiribihina in the Menabe region of western Madagascar. Its striking landscape attracts travelers from all over the world, making the Alley of Baobabs one of the The most visited site in the region, the Alley is the center of local conservation efforts and in July 2007 the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forestry gave it temporary "state protected" status, the first step towards making it Madagascar's first natural monument.
Along the alley grow about a dozen trees of the Adansonia grandidieri species, endemic to Madagascar, whose height is approximately 30 meters. The baobab trees, some 800 years old, are a legacy of the dense rainforests that once flourished in Madagascar.
Trees did not originally grow in isolation in a landscape of dry bushes when there was thick summer around them. Over the years, as the country's population grew, forests were cut down to make way for agriculture. Humans left only the baobab trees, which they preserved both out of respect for these majestic giants and for their value as a source of food and building materials.
2. Sunken Forest of Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan
Lake Kaindy, located in Kazakhstan, is unique. The depth of this lake, 400 meters long, located 2000 meters above sea level, reaches 30 meters in some places. However, what makes this body of water truly remarkable are the tall, dried trunks of submerged Schrenk spruce trees, which, like the masts of mysterious sunken ships, rise above the surface of the water from the bottom of the lake.
During the winter months, Lake Kaindy freezes, but this does not stop some daredevils. Ice swimmers are drawn to the frozen lake, captivated by the sight of tree trunks encased in a layer of ice and the strange beauty of the underwater world hidden underneath.
In summer, Lake Kaindy presents a contrasting picture; you just have to look at its warm green and turquoise waters. Geologically speaking, Lake Kaindy is very young, and was formed only in the last century. It was formed due to a huge limestone landslide.
Water flooded the pool formed as a result of the landslide, and the natural rocky embankment that formed in the middle of the lake fenced it off like a natural dam. Sunken trees that have not yet rotted rise above the cold waters, offering shelter to tired swimmers.
3. Deadvlei Forest, Namibia
Deadvlei is a magical place located near the famous Sossusvlei salt plateau in the Namib-Naukluft Park in Namibia. This place is surrounded by some of the tallest dunes in the world, reaching up to 400 meters in height. These dunes even have nicknames such as "Big Daddy".
This place is a clay plateau, just like Sossusvlei. The clay plateau was formed due to flooding on the Tsauchab River after heavy rainfall. When the climate changed 900 years ago, these heavy rains stopped falling and the area dried out, sand dunes running up onto the plateau and completely blocking the river's access to the area.
Trees that are more than 1,000 years old (thought to have been around 200 years before the climate changed again) form barren forests of ancient, lifeless trees frozen exactly as they were some 900 years ago.
4. Crooked Forest, Poland
Crooked Forest is a grove of oddly shaped pine trees located near the village of Nowe Czarnowo, in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland.
The grove's approximately 400 pine trees were planted around 1930, when the area was still part of the German province of Pomerania.
It is believed that in order for trees to grow in this way, people used some kind of tools or a special growing method, however, the method and motive for this remains a mystery to this day.
5. Wild Apple Forest, Kazakhstan
The top of a mountain range dotted with apple forest in the Trans-Ili Alatau
Before Carl Frederich von Ledebour, a German-Estonian botanist, discovered this incredible apple forest in the early 1830s, the Western world had no idea about this forest. It lies deep inside a mountain range in what is now Kazakhstan. In the middle of the forest lies the bustling city of Alma-Ata (which means “Father of Apples” in Kazakh). This location of the forest has both its pros and cons. The advantage is that the proximity of the growing city has given scientists access to forests that in the past were remote and difficult to access. The downside is that the city is slowly reclaiming space from the forest, as the land is cleared for high-rise buildings and holiday homes.
Wild apples from the apple forest.
The genetic diversity of apples in this forest is simply amazing. Here you can find apples of all colors and sizes. Their size varies from the size of glass marbles to large dessert apples. There are firm red apples, yellow apples, variegated russet apples, bicolor apples, and firm green apples. Some have shiny and thin skin, while others have dull and rough skin. What's amazing is that none of these apple varieties are susceptible to disease or insect damage. Many apples look like they were just bought off the store shelf. The total area of this forest is 560 hectares.
6. The Great Banyan, India
- This is Ficus benghalensis located in the Indian Botanical Garden named after Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, in the city of Howrah, near Kolkata. It is the tree with the widest crown in the world and is estimated to be between 200 and 250 years old.
The tree became sick after it was struck by lightning, so in 1925 the middle of the tree was cut away to keep the rest of it healthy. Because of this, a whole vegetatively reproducing colony was formed from one tree. The 330-meter road was built around the trunk of the great banyan tree, but the tree continues to grow beyond its boundaries.
The Great Banyan is over 250 years old and in width it is the largest known tree in India, and perhaps even in Asia. The tree has no clear history, however, it is mentioned in some nineteenth-century travel books. The tree was damaged by two large cyclones in 1884 and 1886, when some of its large branches were broken and the tree itself suffered a proliferation of hard, mushroom-like growths. Given its enormous number of above-ground roots, the Great Banyan is more like a forest than an individual tree.
At the moment, the tree lives without its main trunk, which rotted and was removed in 1925. The girth of the main trunk was 1.7 meters, and the height of the tree was 15.7 meters. The tree covers an area of approximately 14,500 square meters (about one and a half hectares). The current crown circumference is approximately 1 kilometer, and the tallest branch rises 25 meters above the ground. The tree currently has 3,300 above-ground roots that extend down to the ground.
7. Lemonodasos, Greece
The forest of lemon trees or Lemonodasos, one of the many tourist attractions on the island of Poros, part of the island of Kefalonia, has served as an inspiration for many poets and writers. Located diagonally from the center of the island of Poros, the forest of lemon trees grows on the slope of Mount Aderes and is a grove of wild lemons.
Forest of lemon trees on the island of Kefalonia.
This dense forest, consisting exclusively of lemon trees, is located close to the most beautiful beaches in this area (Aliki Beach). As you approach the lemon grove, you can smell the increasingly strong and fresh smell of lemon trees. This lemon forest also has a huge number of small ponds.
Large tracts of trees are found in almost all corners of our planet, with the exception of deserts and other arid places. If you want to visit a mysterious forest reminiscent of medieval legends, fairy tales and local traditions, you should go to certain places of power.
Original green spaces of Europe - the path to fantasy land
The mysterious forests of this part of the mainland are filled with the spirit of antiquity. Many of them, located in European countries, date back several centuries and are under the protection of the state or even UNESCO itself. Do you want to visit the world of Sleeping Beauty in reality, where magic and enchantment reign? Be sure to visit one of the following forests:
- Crooked Forest;
- Black Forest;
- Red Forest;
- Drunken Forest;
- forests of the Komi Republic.
It grows in the suburb of Novee Tsarnovo and resembles one of the surreal landscapes of the brilliant Salvador Dali. For more than 80 years, this forest has enchanted, and sometimes frightened, trees with their curved S-shaped tree trunks. The grove, consisting of more than four hundred pine trees, was planted in 1930 in Pomerania, which at that time belonged to Germany. Krivolesye baffles many researchers: it is still unclear what planting technique or tools were used to give the trees this shape.
Numerous German, Austrian and Swiss legends about evil spirits, trolls, kobolds, gnomes and other evil spirits are associated with this forest in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Even today, in the age of cars and technology, an evening walk through the Black Forest can leave a mystical and even depressing impression. Here the trees grow very densely on the slopes of the majestic Alps, creating a shady twilight.
The modern Black Forest is quite landscaped. In the forest, tourists are expected to:
- ski trails;
- pedestrian paths;
- mountain biking trails;
- small cafes serving local desserts, delicacies and the famous Black Forest ham;
- shops where you will be taught real wood carving and even how to make a cuckoo clock.
This landing is a real lost place with an area of about 10 sq. km not far from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. After the reactor explosion in 1986, most of the coniferous trees were destroyed by radiation, which gave them an unusual brown-red color. The radiation turned out to be so strong that at night the pine trees glowed in the dark. During emergency work, the forest was partially buried, but is now being restored naturally.
It is somewhat reminiscent of its Polish counterpart: the coniferous trees here look just as twisted and curved. But deciduous trees grow completely straight. Due to the unusual shape of the trunk, the forest in the Kaliningrad region is also called Dancing. Scientists believe that the reason for this unique phenomenon is a geomagnetic anomaly, but local residents have their own opinion on this matter: they do not risk entering here after dark.
The massifs are the first natural site in Russia to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The forest in the Komi Republic belongs to protected areas and allows you to get acquainted with the amazing ecosystem of the Ural taiga. Hundreds of rare species of fish, birds and mammals live here, and several rivers with crystal clear water flow through. The total forested area exceeds 30,000 sq. km.
Green areas of the American continent
When you come to the USA, don’t miss the unique chance to tickle your nerves and visit the famous Dark Forest in Connecticut. Once upon a time there was a small town called Dudleytown, long abandoned by its inhabitants. There are bad rumors about the forest: many accidents and suicides occurred here, and violent deaths were not uncommon. The density of trees is so great that darkness under their canopy persists even on a sunny day. After several mysterious disappearances of people, the forest is under the protection of the American military.
Also worthy of attention:
- Inyo National Park in California. It is famous for its prehistoric trees, among which the giant Methuselah pine stands out. The tree is named after the biblical centenarian due to its age of almost 5 thousand years. Its exact location is kept secret to avoid attacks by vandals.
- Chestnut Hills in Wisconsin, considered the largest chestnut forest on the American continent.
Green lungs of the planet in Asia
Forests in this part of the world are also often associated with local legends and folklore and, thanks to the exotic flora, look very picturesque and original. The most interesting of them include:
- Sagano bamboo forest;
- Zhangjiajie Forest Park;
- Aokigahara forest.
It is located near Kyoto (Japan). The trees growing here are several times taller than human height and allow sunlight to pass through. This allows you to create a special picturesque atmosphere and carefully study all the features of the giant green area, through which several pedestrian alleys are laid.
A large forest area is located in the northern part of China. It is considered a UNESCO reserve and is famous for its gigantic natural formations that resemble columns or slumbering giants. These strange peaks are covered with dense thickets, which Zhangjiajie owes to its very high humidity.
It is located on the northwestern slope of Mount Fuji and has a very bad reputation. In Aokigahara, the trees are literally stuck to each other, so it is very dark and quiet here: few birds settle in the forest. Rocky, gloomy caves give it a very gloomy flavor, and the suicides that constantly occur here frighten potential visitors.
There are a lot of forests on our planet to suit every taste. Some of them give a good mood and literally heal the soul, others evoke melancholy and even fear. All that remains is to choose what seduces you and immediately plan a trip there.
Despite the fact that today there is serious deforestation all over the world, untouched places remain that amaze with their beauty. From Canada to Poland, some of the best sights are trees. It doesn’t matter whether the forest is large or small, because incredible beauty can be found in just a few special types of trees. Let's take a look at the most beautiful forests in the world.
1. Crooked Forest, Poland
In Poland there is a very interesting forest where only crooked coniferous trees grow. Logically, it could be explained if there were a few strangely growing trees, but in The Crooked Forest, all the trees are bent in the same manner. In total, there are about 400 trees in the forest, which appeared in the 1930s. There are many versions of what could have caused these forms, but the most likely is that tanks drove through the trees during the war.
2. Amazon Rainforest, South America
Most people probably associate the “tropical forest” with the Amazon River. The jungle is so huge that it spans the territories of 9 countries and covers a total area of 5,500,000 square meters. km.. Despite its problem with cutting down trees, which has existed for a very long time, the Amazon forest in its area today accounts for half of all tropical forests in the world.
3. Jiuzhaigou Valley, China
Jiuzhaigou Valley is known as the Valley of Nine Villages and is very famous for its vibrant lakes and stunning waterfalls. The areas around the unique lakes and waterfalls are occupied by dense forests. The trees grow at different altitudes, ranging from 2000 meters and reaching 4500 meters above sea level. The territory of the valley was included in the list of World Heritage Sites in 1992, which will certainly help preserve the forest in the future.
4. Coconino National Forest, USA
Coconino National Forest is located in Arizona. This is a forest that lies in the mountains, the trees of which grow at altitudes of up to 12,000 feet. Most of the trees are aspen or ponderosa pine, which make a wonderful combination of foliage. The Coconino gets its name because it runs through the Mogollon and Coconino Plateaus. Anyone who loves hiking will have plenty to do here, with plenty of interesting trails to explore.
5. Great Bear Rainforest, Canada and USA
When you hear “rainforest,” you tend to think of the southern part of the country’s border rather than the northern part. The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest intact temperate forest remaining, stretching from British Columbia to Alaska. It is home to many species of fauna such as grizzly bears, brown bears, pumas, salmon and wolves. The flora here includes thousand-year-old West Virginia juniper and Sitka spruce, which grows up to 90 meters in height.
6. Black Forest, Germany
You must have tried the Black Forest pie, but did you know that such a forest actually exists in southeastern Germany? Also known as the Black Forest, the Black Forest was so named by the Romans because it was so dense that even the most stubborn rays of the sun could not penetrate its cover. The Rhine Valley defines its borders in the west and south.
7. Tongass National Forest, USA
Alaska boasts more than one beautiful forest on our list. The Tongass covers 17 million acres and is the largest national wildlife refuge in the United States. Several Alaska Native tribes live here. In fact, more than 75,000 people depend on this forest for their livelihood.
8. Inland Rainforest, Canada
Most of this rainforest is located in British Columbia. West Virginia junipers grow here. This is one of the rare tropical forests in the center of the country. The nearest coastal rainforest is almost 1000 km to the west. Most of the trees remain untouched by humans, and some of them are more than 1000 years old.
9. Sherwood Forest, England
Well known for Robin Hood and his friends, Sherwood is a very popular tourist destination. Thanks to the folk tale of Robin Hood, more than half a million people come here every year. It is a relatively small forest, covering about 1.5 square miles. But at the time when it was used as a hunting ground, it occupied a large area.
10. Sagano Bamboo Forest, Japan
Bamboo is a wonderful plant; some even plant entire bamboo gardens. In the Arashiyama region of Japan, an entire bamboo forest has been planted. More than a dozen varieties of bamboo are present in this unique forest, which lies west of Kyoto. Don't think this is a small grove. Some trees reach heights of 100 feet.
People have been traveling to see the forests for decades. Some are attracted by the play of colors of leaves, others are interested in bamboo and tropical forests. There is so much beauty in the world that hides behind the thick branches of trees. Have you ever been to these enchanting forests?
Forests cover a significant portion of the Earth's surface. They are not only a source of oxygen, but also attract with their beauty. There is nothing more peaceful than the opportunity to enjoy the view of a beautiful forest that keeps its history and its secrets.
1. Beskydy, Czech Republic
Behind the structure of the earth's surface, the Beskids are asymmetrical geological folds that seem to overlap one another, creating a unique relief covered with forest.
2. Dancing or drunken forest, Kaliningrad
In Kaliningrad, trees incredibly formed a dancing forest. Some trees became like rings, others acquired several trunks, which were also twisted.
3. Quebec Forest, Canada
The Quebec forest is very contrasting and beautiful all four seasons. It’s especially magical in Quebec in the fall: the forests “burn” with bright colors.
4. Swampy forests, Romania
The mystical swampy forests in Romania will charm you with their mystery and give you a lot of impressions.
5. Monteverde National Park, Costa Rica
Monteverde Cloud National Park (meaning “green mountain” in Spanish) is located in Costa Rica.
6. Bamboo Forest, Kyoto
The Sagano Bamboo Forest is a picturesque alley consisting of thousands of towering bamboo trees lined up in neat rows.
7. Dragon's Blood Forest, Socotra Island
Fabulous thickets of the island of Socotra from fancy trees, such as "dragon's blood" with flat crowns.
8. Subtropical Forests, Meghalaya
The Meghalaya Subtropical Forests are a montane subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of eastern India.
9. Sunken forest of Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan
Lake Kaindy, located in Kazakhstan, is unique. However, what makes this body of water truly remarkable are the tall, dried trunks of submerged Schrenk spruce trees, which, like the masts of mysterious sunken ships, rise above the surface of the water from the bottom of the lake.
9. Monterey Bay Aquarium, USA
The public aquarium, located in Monterey (California, USA) was founded in 1984 and is located on the site of a former cannery on Cannery Row.
10. Suicide Forest in Japan
Aokigahara (Jukai) looks like a forest from an eerie gothic fairy tale with incredibly twisted trees, hanging moss and caves gaping everywhere.
11. Olympic National Forest, Washington
Trees covered with moss look more like scenes from a science-fiction film than a real earthly forest in Olympic National Park, Washington State (USA).
12. Black Forest or “black forest”, Germany
The fabulous Black Forest boasts this natural landmark, which is as famous as Monument Valley in the USA. This Black Forest brings back memories of fairy-tale characters: scary witches and fussy gnomes from the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.
13. “Crooked Forest”, Poland
In western Poland there is a mysterious “Crooked Forest”, which is unusual in that trees grow on its territory that look unlike any other.
14. Thorn Forest, Madagascar
In the thorny xerophilic forests of Madagascar there are trees with scale-like leaves and shrubs with green stems without leaves.
15. Tropical Amazon Jungle, Brazil
The Amazon rainforest, also called Amazonia, is considered the world's greatest resource and is known as the "lungs of the planet" due to the fact that it accounts for a fifth of Earth's global oxygen production.
16. Monkey Puzzle Forest, Chile
Araucaria Chilean, called the “monkey puzzle” by the inhabitants of South and North America, can be imagined by imagining a hybrid of a palm tree and a pineapple.
17. Son Doong Cave Forest, Vietnam
The lungs of the planet, natural treasure troves, green oceans—whatever they call the forests that cover the Earth. Even those who were born and raised in the steppe cannot deny their beauty and charm.
On International Forest Day, which has been celebrated on March 20 since 1971, it is especially important to remember the enormous role forests play in our lives. The date was chosen for a reason: it is the day of the spring equinox, and, therefore, the day of renewal of nature, the beginning of a new season. Every year on March 20, the UN holds many events dedicated to forest protection.
Numerous actions, flash mobs, tree planting campaigns dedicated to Forest Day will continue throughout the next week in most countries of the world, but we invite you to get acquainted with those amazing forests that attract not only mushroom pickers and hunters, but also numerous researchers and , of course, hundreds of thousands of tourists.
Distinguished by their unusual color, appearance, flora and fauna, or even the mystical legends that accompany them, these forests remain consistently interesting and have been growing in visitation for decades.
Blue Mountains in Australia
This eucalyptus forest, which gives its name to the entire reserve, is incredibly popular among tourists. The low mountains covered with trees got their name thanks to the essential oils that float in the air and turn it bluish under the sun's rays.
People come to the Blue Mountains National Park not only for this natural phenomenon, but also for the free herbal medicine, because, according to local residents, they are not susceptible to disease precisely because of the air saturated with eucalyptus oils.
Aokigahara Jukai Suicide Forest in Japan
At the foot of Mount Fuji lies an unusual forest: located on a layer of hardened lava, it is filled not only with trees whose roots spread along the surface of the earth, unable to break through its varnished surface, but also with numerous caves, in many of which the ice does not melt even in summer heat.
The compass here is just a useless toy: due to a number of geomagnetic anomalies, its needle rotates from side to side, not giving the slightest idea about the cardinal directions.
Perhaps this is why Aokigahara Forest is the most popular place in Japan to commit suicide. Once you step away from the path a couple of dozen steps, you may never come back. Local authorities are struggling with the terrible statistics, but the number of people who meet their end here is growing year by year. Tourists come here mainly in pursuit of thrills, of which there are plenty here.
Giant sequoias in the USA
In the southern Sierra Nevada there is a reserve of the largest trees in the world, where more than three hundred thousand tourists come every year.
The height of the largest sequoia reaches 82 meters, and the girth of its trunk is 38 meters, that is, you need to line up an entire school class in a round dance to hug this tree.
There are hundreds of similar trees here, the oldest of them is almost two and a half thousand years old, and new ones begin to grow every year. A favorite pastime of tourists is trying to grasp at least a young tree with their hands.
By the way, this reserve in the United States is also known for the fact that local drug dealers have been growing marijuana here for a long time.
Living bridges in India
Complex living structures that are up to five hundred years old are located in the Indian state of Meghalaya. These are suspension bridges, the basis of which are the roots of rubber trees: the roots of a young tree growing near the river are placed in a hollowed out palm tree trunk, thrown to the neighboring bank; when they grow and take root, the bridge is ready. Moreover, unlike conventional bridges, this one only becomes more reliable over the years and does not require any repairs or maintenance.
Most tourists try to see this for themselves and cross one of the rivers on a living, slightly swaying bridge.
Dancing forest in Russia
The Curonian Spit Park, located in the Kaliningrad region, also has a forest that is interesting for both tourists and scientists.
Local residents call it “dancing” or “drunk” - because the tree trunks here bend, grow at an angle, or even curl into loops contrary to all the laws of nature. It would seem that the trees simply could not help but break, having undergone such a curvature, but the forest is quite healthy and is no different from others except for the strange shape of the trunks. It is also interesting that scientists still have not determined why, upon reaching a certain height, a tree begins to grow anywhere but up.
Of course, almost any country can boast of natural attractions, but when choosing a place for your next vacation, remember that in the forest you will not only find it interesting, but also useful, because nowhere else has such wonderful air.