Unusual forest. The most beautiful tropical forests on the planet
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.
8 chosen
The Earth's forests are called the lungs of the planet. The endless and unexplored forests of the Amazon, thousands of kilometers of Siberian forests, relict forests of America, the emerald green of the “rain” forests of Australia and the now protected forests of Europe - our planet breathes and lives with them. All of them are unique, but among them there are “pearls of forests” - especially protected and beautiful places, with a special atmosphere and indescribable sensations. Here a person can feel like a part of Nature, feel its breath, return to the primitive world and even get lost in reality...
Sagano Bamboo Forest, Japan
The national pride of Japan, the ancient bamboo forest of Sagano at the foot of Mount Arashiyama, where thousands of tourists flock today, has been a place of pilgrimage since the 8th century. The Sagano forest is beautiful at any time of the year, delighting with delicate cherry blossoms in spring and flashing gold in autumn. But its main treasure for centuries remains the bamboo forest - a real legend of Japan, where its spirit possibly lives.
Daintree Rainforest, Australia
The stunning beauty of the Daintree forests is, according to scientists, approximately 160 million years old! This is one of the oldest tropical forests on Earth that has survived to this day. More than 30% of the animals found only in Australia and many relict plants have been preserved in its wilds. It has also become a refuge for most of the butterflies living on the green continent. The Daintree Rainforest is a World Heritage Site, along with Australia's coral reefs and waterfalls.
Black Forest, Germany
If you want to get into a scary, scary fairy tale and feel like Hansel and Gretel or at least Little Red Riding Hood, then you definitely need to visit the Black Forest of the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg! The trees of this forest grow so closely that their branches do not allow sunlight to pass through, and the more eerie sensations arise on the banks of its lakes and rivers. The frightening beauty of the forest probably became the prototype of the terrible forests from the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.
Crooked Forest, Poland
Once in Krzywy Las(the second name is “Drunken Forest”) you might think that you are not on Earth at all, but on another planet or inside someone’s crazy fantasy. This is not a wild forest, but a grove of four hundred pines, bent strictly in a northerly direction, artificially planted in Pomerania in 1930. There are several versions of this strange type of forest. According to one of them, trees were planted to make bent furniture out of them, according to another, pine trees were bent to the north so that no one would get lost, according to the third, the winds were to blame, and according to the fourth, there lived a witch in the forest, whose house was guarded by crooked trees. It is not known for certain who and why grew the crooked pines, which, moreover, in 80 years have not reached the standard height. Admission to the Crooked Forest is strictly limited, but something similar, namely the Dancing Forest, can be seen on the Curonian Spit in the Kaliningrad region, where the pines are bizarrely curved and twisted into spirals.
Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Poland and Belarus
A reserved melody, a reserved distance – the centuries-old forest area of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The Bialowieza Forests are the largest remaining areas of primary forest on the European Plain. More than 200 thousand tourists annually visit protected forests in Poland, while the Belarusian part remains almost unexplored territory for travelers, unmatched in Europe in terms of the number of plant and animal species.
Forests of Russia
Which of the endless forests of Russia is the most beautiful? For each of us, the most beautiful forest is the forest of our small homeland. For me, the most beautiful forests are the forests of the Pskov region, with their blue lakes and blue rivers, the cleanest air of pine forests, blueberries and strawberries, lingonberries and mushrooms. One day in such a forest adds years to your life, filling you with natural strength and energy.
Siberians will assure you that there are no denser forests in the whole wide world; in Transbaikalia they consider the Baikal forest the most magical, the forests of the Voronezh region are literally glorified in the books of Vasily Peskov, the Ural forests are the most beautiful for the inhabitants of the Urals. Perhaps they themselves will share with us the beauty of their forests.
Ecology
Forests cover approximately 9.4 percent of the planet's land mass, but there were times when 50 percent of the land was covered by forests. Most people associate forests with trees, but the very concept of a “forest ecosystem” includes many more organisms, including not only trees, but also small plants, fungi, bacteria, insects, and animals.
The forest is a system through which large amounts of energy flow and through which nutrient cycling takes place. Fortunately, most people on the planet are able to enjoy the tranquility of ancient forests. 80 percent of European forests are in Russia.
If you find yourself in an old forest, streams of clean air will fill your lungs. Your senses will immediately perk up and you will become more aware of what is happening around you. In the forest you never know what is waiting for you around the corner. Here you can discover many amazing things and witness something you have never seen before.
In the forest you can feel a real unity with nature; you will escape from the world of modern technology and big cities. We invite you to learn about the strangest and most unique forests on the planet, and you might want to take a walk through them. US President Franklin Roosevelt said: “A people who destroys their soil destroys themselves. Forests are the lungs of our land, which purify the air and give strength to people.”
1) Forests of North Sentinel Island: forests where primitive people live
North Sentinel Island is one of the Andaman Islands located in the Bay of Bengal. This island is unique in that it is surrounded by coral reefs and has no natural bays. For this reason, Europeans did not settle on the island, and no one cut down its forest. The island is almost completely covered with old forest, the area of which is 72 square kilometers. Due to the fact that North Sentinel Island is isolated, the primitive Sentinelese tribe still lives on it.
Primitive tribes in our time
The Sentinelese tribe numbers between 50 and 400 people, but it is not known exactly, since these people reject any contact with the outside world. On January 26, 2006, two people were illegally fishing for crabs near North Sentinel Island. They were attacked and killed by the Sentinelese.
The Indian Coast Guard attempted to retrieve the bodies using a helicopter but was met with a barrage of arrows. There were reports that the Sentinelese buried the bodies of the fishermen rather than roasting them for lunch. However, the idea that the tribe members are cannibals is plausible.
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami caused severe damage to North Sentinel Island. Some reefs surrounding the island were at depth, others rose above the surface. The coastline of the island was completely destroyed.
The Sentinelese's fishing grounds were destroyed, but the tribe has since managed to adapt to new conditions. These people live in a primitive communal system, fish, gather, their survival depends on the forest in which they hunt wild animals, collect fruits, and so on.
Currently, nothing is known about the agricultural methods and practices of the Sentinelese. Their weapons are spears and arrows, and their accuracy is high. It costs them nothing to hit the target even from 10 meters. For warning shots, the Sentinelese sometimes use arrows without tips. The main foods in their diet are plants that grow in the forest, coconuts that can be easily found on the beaches, wild boars and presumably other wild animals.
2) Crooked Forest: a forest with strange crooked trees
Krivolesie is a grove of trees with strangely shaped trunks, located near the village of Nowe Carnowo in western Poland. There are more than 400 pine trees in this forest, but the trunks of some of them have a 90-degree slope at the base. All of them are curved towards the north, and quite normal straight trees of the same species grow around them. The crooked trees were planted around 1930, when this area of Poland was part of the German province of Pomerania.
The trees are believed to have been twisted by humans, but the motives and methods are still unknown. It seems as if the trees were allowed to grow for 7-10 years, and then, using some kind of device, their trunks were tilted for some reason.
It is not clear exactly why the Germans needed to bend the trees, but some researchers believe that they wanted to make special wooden furniture, frames for boats, or collars for oxen pulling the plow.
3) Red Forest: the strange forest of Chernobyl
The Red Forest is located within a 10-kilometer radius of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, near the ghost town of Pripyat, Ukraine. After the nuclear power plant accident on April 26, 1986, the trees in this forest acquired a reddish tint and died. During the cleanup work, most of the trees were bulldozed and taken to waste dumps.
The area was covered with sand and young pine trees were planted here. Today, the Red Forest remains the most polluted area in the world. Some old pine trees remained in it. 90 percent of radiation is concentrated in soils.
The Chernobyl accident offered scientists a unique opportunity to see how radioactive waste can affect the environment. It may seem strange, but many living creatures of the Red Forest not only survived, but also thrived. This forest became a "Radioactive Nature Reserve" and today is home to many rare species. A large number of different species moved to these places, and biodiversity here increased significantly after the disaster.
Przewalski's horses in the Chernobyl forest?
Since 1986, the wild boar population in the Red Forest has increased significantly. It is also home to other wild species including storks, wolves, beavers, lynxes, moose and eagles. Birds have been observed nesting in old nuclear reactors, and many rare animals have been seen here. In 2001, traces of a brown bear were spotted on the streets of the former city of Pripyat.
In 2002, a young rare eagle owl was spotted on an abandoned excavator in the Red Forest, of which there are no more than a hundred left in Ukraine. In 2005, a pack of 21 Przewalski's horses, which escaped from captivity, ended up in these places and bred to 64 individuals.
Not entirely natural things happen in the Red Forest. The flora and fauna in the area were severely affected by radioactive contamination. In the years following the disaster, there were reports of mutant animals, but there were no recorded cases of radiation affecting the genetic development of species, with the exception of partial albinism in swallows and stunting of feather growth in birds.
It is worth noting that mutant animals die quickly, so those affected by radiation are no longer alive. The exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant extends over an area of 2,500 square kilometers in the northern part of Ukraine and southern Belarus.
4) The Dying Chestnut Hill Forest
Endothium bark cancer of edible chestnut is a devastating disease that has affected many chestnut trees in America and led to the mass extinction of these trees in the eastern United States. The disease was accidentally introduced into North America around the beginning of the 20th century along with lumber or chestnut trees. By the 1940s, virtually all chestnut trees in the United States had died.
Once these amazing trees reached 60 meters in height, and the diameter of their trunks was about 4.2 meters. Chestnut trees are known to produce beautiful flowers in late spring and early summer. The disease is caused by a fungus C. parasitica, it kills trees, penetrating under the bark and destroying the cambium. After this disease was discovered, conservationists tried to remove the affected plants from the forest, however, as it turned out, these actions were futile.
Cancer spares no one, not even chestnuts
The largest surviving chestnut forest in America is Chestnut Hill, which is located near the town of West Salem, Wisconsin. This forest contains about 2,500 chestnut trees on an area of 24 hectares. These chestnut trees are descendants of just a dozen ancestors that were planted by Martin Hick in the late 19th century.
These trees were planted in the west, far from the plants that grew naturally, which is why they managed to escape the misfortune. In 1987, scientists discovered a fungus in this forest, which gradually began to die. Today, researchers are working to eradicate the disease and doing everything they can to bring chestnut forests back to the United States.
American Chestnut Foundation Today he is working on developing plants that are resistant to fungi. These chestnuts will be planted in different parts of the country. The fungus easily spreads to neighboring plants, but it is likely that some isolated chestnuts survived. In 2006, a small grove of healthy chestnut trees was discovered in Georgia.
5) Sea of Trees Aokigahara: Suicide Forest
Sea of Trees Aokigahara is a beautiful forest located at the northeastern foot of Mount Fuji in Japan. There are several caves hidden in this forest and giant trees grow here. The forest is very dark, the trees grow very close to each other, so only a few rays of the sun penetrate into the thicket. There are no animals in Aokigahara Forest, it is an eerie and very quiet place.
These days, the forest has acquired a special reputation: on the one hand, near the forest and on its edges there is a wonderful view of Mount Fuji, but on the other hand, this place attracts a huge number of people who want to commit suicide. There are no exact statistics on suicides committed in the forest yet, but in 2004 the bodies of 108 people were found here.
Popular suicide spot
In recent years, the Japanese government has stopped publishing the number of suicides committed in the forest, but the numbers are leaked to the press. For example, in 2010 it was reported that 247 people were planning to commit suicide here, of which 54 were successful.
Because of the number of suicides, authorities have posted signs throughout the forest in Japanese and English urging people to rethink their actions.
Every year, police and volunteers comb the area and always find someone. The Sea of Trees is considered the second most popular place to attract suicides, after the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Japan's high suicide rate is a serious problem that has worsened since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Society is faced with a wave of social isolation."Hikikomori"
is a Japanese term that refers to the phenomenon of alienation among teenagers and young adults who decide to live in solitude. By some estimates, about 1 percent of Japanese live this way.
In Japanese mythology, the Sea of Trees forest has always been shrouded in mystery and legend. It is believed that this is the place where old people go to die and where evil spirits rule.
Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell is a 147 square kilometer nature reserve located in the Norwegian county of Buskerud. The reserve was founded on December 13, 2002 and is located in the mountainous area between the towns of Nor and Solevand.
Here grows the last ancient virgin forest in Norway, in which you can find 93 species of animals and plants listed in the Red Book.
The forest of Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell is home to a huge number of animals that depend on the dynamics of the forest. Here you can find birds such as the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Kuksha (pictured), Wood Pigeon and Golden Eagle. Currently, approximately 75 percent of the forest is under state protection. It seems that Norway is a little behind its neighboring countries when it comes to protecting its forests.
7) Forest "Dark Entrance": house of evil spirits
Dudley (Village of the Damned) is a landmark town in the state of Connecticut. It was founded in the mid-1740s as a small settlement and by the 19th century had become a fairly prosperous city. Residents of the town were employed in the ironworking industry, which was quite developed in this region.
Many visitors could be found here until reports of strange phenomena, unexplained murders and mass suicides appeared. In some cases, city residents began to see hallucinations in which demons appeared before them, ordering them to commit suicide. Livestock began to disappear.
Residents of the city of Dudley began to think that someone had cursed their lands. By the middle of the 20th century, there were no residents left in the city; all of them either died or left. Today Dudley looks the same as it looked 250 years ago when the first settlers arrived here.
There is a dense forest with a rocky landscape, located in the shadow of three different mountains - Bald Mountain, Woodbury Mountain and Coltsfood Triplet Mountain. Due to the fact that the forest is very dense and the trees in it are very tall, it received the name forest "Dark Entrance".
The ruins of the city of Dudley and the Dark Entrance forest are guarded by a special group that pursues anyone who illegally enters these places. Hundreds of people were arrested when they tried to visit Dudley. They say they saw inexplicable round objects, lights and heard strange sounds here.
Like some other strange forests, this forest is very quiet and there are no animals. Modern researchers have suggested that the city simply could not withstand the mass hysteria, and the groundwater was contaminated with lead, which led to a high mortality rate.
8) Forest of Ardennes: site of famous battles
The Ardennes is a forested mountainous region located in Belgium, Luxembourg and France. The area is rich in timber, minerals and game. The Ardennes occupy a strategic position in Europe. For this reason, famous battles took place in this territory.
In the 20th century, the Ardennes was considered unsuitable for large-scale military operations, but during the First and Second World Wars, Germany successfully used these landscapes in attempts to conquer France.
The Bulge is the site of three major battles of the 20th century: Ardennes operation(1914), French campaign(1940) and Ardennes offensives(1944). During the Ardennes Operation, French and German troops literally ran into each other in the Ardennes Forest due to thick fog.
In the winter of 1944, the Third Reich launched a massive offensive. The route of the German troops lay through the Ardennes region in southwestern Belgium. This event was called the Ardennes Offensive.
Before the Bulge Offensive, this snow-covered area was called the "Phantom Front". Hitler valued the Ardennes as a favorable area for a surprise attack. Many of the towns and villages located in these areas were destroyed during the war, including the historic Belgian town of La Roche-en-Ardenne. The Ardennes were captured by Germany until they were recaptured from the Nazis in 1945.
Today, the Ardennes Forest is a favorite tourist destination in Europe, where you can hunt, mountain bike, kayak, and visit historical sites.
9) Khoya-Bachu Forest: UFO haven
Hoia Baciu Forest is located near the city of Cluj-Napoca in Romania, locals call it Romanian "Bermuda Triangle". He was named after a shepherd who disappeared in these places along with two hundred sheep. Many people who live in this area are afraid to even approach this forest. They believe that no one can return from it alive and unharmed. Some people who did venture into the strange forest claimed to experience strange sensations, including nausea, vomiting, migraines, burning sensations, severe anxiety, and so on.
Hoya Baciu Forest has a reputation for paranormal activity. There was evidence of strange phenomena including mysterious lights, women's voices, giggling, ghosts appearing, and so on. In the 1970s, these places were chosen by UFOs. People who visited the forest reported strong feelings of anxiety and the feeling that someone was watching them. The vegetation in the forest has strange properties. On August 18, 1968, military technician Emil Barnia took the famous photograph of a saucer-shaped object in the Hoya Baciu forest.
Many people who live near the Khoya-Bachu forest claim that sometimes they see an incomprehensible glow in the forest. Paranormal investigators from all over the world are interested in what is happening in this forest. Ghost and UFO hunters came here from Germany, France, the USA and Hungary. Many people managed to see inexplicable things.
10) Wooda Ancient Forest: China's prehistoric forest
In February 2012, Chinese scientists reported that they had completed the reconstruction of an ancient forest that was found in the north of the country, buried under a layer of volcanic ash near the Mongolian region of Vuda. The forest, covering an area of 20 square kilometers, was completely preserved thanks to a volcanic eruption that took place 298 million years ago. This discovery was reminiscent of the destruction of the Roman city of Pompeii in 79 AD.
Scientists from University of Pennsylvania, Shenyang University And Yunnan University were able to reconstruct 3 thousand square kilometers of subtropical forest. They discovered a rich collection of ancient plants that had long since become extinct. The forest is believed to have been located on the edge of a huge tropical island off the eastern coast of the continent of Pangea.
It was a marshy area with a layer of peat and several centimeters of standing water. A total of 6 different species of trees have been identified, including the tall Sigillaria and Cordaites and the smaller Noeggeratials, which are relatives of ferns. Scientists have found no evidence of animals such as ancient amphibians in this forest.
+ Yellowwood Forest: a forest that keeps a secret
Yellowwood Forest is located in Brown County, Indiana. The name Yellowwood ("Yellow Forest") comes from the name of a rare yellow tree. The Yellowwood Nature Preserve was established in the 1930s. In 1939, a lake with an area of 54 hectares appeared here. There is one secret connected with this forest. Huge boulders weighing about 180 kilograms were found on the tops of three trees. These stones were discovered in the 1990s by a turkey hunter and were named "Turkey stones".
The stones are located on the south side of a slope above a plain near Tulip Tree Road in western Brown County. State officials cannot explain how the rocks ended up in the trees and were caught between branches. Some people think it's just a joke, that they were abandoned by hurricanes, or that they ended up in trees as a result of floods. This phenomenon is even discussed on some UFO websites.
There is a version that the stones were placed on the trees using helicopters during military exercises, since a military camp was located nearby during the Second World War. However, this information has not been confirmed.
To see all the wealth of flora and fauna in their original form and appreciate the beauty of relaxation in peace and solitude, you should go to one of the most beautiful forests on the planet.
Daintree National Park, Australia
Dry season: from May to November
from $245 for a double room
The Daintree is a conservation area in the north. Its emerald forests are considered the oldest in the world - they are more than 100 million years old. More recently, tree species that had long been considered extinct were discovered here. The park is home to the mysterious place “Jumping Stones”. According to legend, if you take even one pebble from here, you will be cursed forever by the local aborigines.
Travelers are especially attracted to the most beautiful part of the park near Mossman Gorge, where a luxurious sandy beach begins along a coral reef.
The best time to visit the park is the dry season from May to November. Although experienced travelers say that the forest looks especially fascinating when it rains.
Cotopaxi National Park, Cloud Forest, Ecuador
Dry season: from mid-June to early October
Cost of a room in a park hotel: from 96 $ per night per person
This park is famous for one of the largest volcanoes on the planet. The height of the Cotopaxi volcano is 5897 meters. On its western slopes lies the famous Cloud Forest, one of the richest on the planet.
The secret of the forest is that it is located on a steep mountain surface, which means that it is much easier for the sun to penetrate even the densest thickets. As a result, in the forest you can even find animals that are not typical for this ecosystem.
The best time to visit is the dry season; during the rainy season the air temperature is much lower. However, it is worth remembering that at night, even during the dry season, it becomes much colder.
Amazon rainforest, Brazil
Dry season: from August to early December
Average cost of a tour to the Amazon forests:$2500 for 14 nights
These forests are rightfully considered the richest and most beautiful on earth. In addition, they are also the largest in the world. The size of the Amazon forest is comparable to half the area of all the world's tropical forests.
According to scientists, for every 10 km 2 of forest there are more than 1000 species of flowers, about 750 species of trees, 125 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and an innumerable number of insects.
Monteverde Park, Costa Rica
Dry season: from December to April
Cost of a room in a park hotel: from $50 per night per person
Monteverde Park is the most mysterious of all forests on the planet. It is also known as “cloudy” because of the constant light haze that gives it a special charm. Walking through the park, you can see more than 1000 species of various plants, and what is especially interesting is about 4 hundred species of magnificent orchids. In addition, the forest is home to 500 species of butterflies, 150 species of reptiles, 100 species of animals and more than 400 species of birds.
Special areas have been created in the forest for tourists where they can observe animals in their natural habitat.
Denali National Park, Alaska, USA
Dry season: from June to September
Camping: from 9 $ per night
Anyone who can’t stand the tropical climate and scorching sun should go to Denali Park. Located in the heart of Alaska, it stretches over 25 thousand km. In addition to the beautiful dense forests, you can see picturesque mountains, wild rivers and crystal clear lakes here. In addition, the highest mountain in America, McKinley (6193 m), is located in the park.
Anyone who dares to walk through this forest has the opportunity to see a grizzly or black bear with their own eyes. Admission: $10 (valid for 7 days from activation)
Typically, tourists visit the park from June to September, when there is no rain.
Zhangjiajie National Park, China
Dry season: from March to November
Average room rate during dry season:$80 for double room
Zhangjiajie is considered the oldest and most famous park - it was opened back in 1982. This is a unique ecosystem with virgin forests, mysterious caves, clear lakes, hot springs, waterfalls and mountain gorges.
In the four-tier Yellow Dragon Cave, more than 15 km long, you can see 13 halls, 96 galleries, lakes, rivers and many beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes and sizes. The largest of them has a diameter of 10 cm and a length of more than 19 m.
The most comfortable time to visit the park is from March to November. But the famous mountains floating in the fog, for which this park is famous, can only be seen in the fall, if you are lucky enough to catch a sunny day following a long rain. It is not recommended to visit the park from December to February.
Swiss National Park, Switzerland
Dry season: from May to October
Hut room: on average 40 € per night per person
The Swiss national park is one of the most beautiful and oldest forests in Europe. Broken back in 1914, it is located in the eastern part. The snow caps of the majestic Alps, wild rivers, emerald valleys and rich wildlife have made the park famous throughout the world.
The history of the park is interesting. In 1914, any economic activity was prohibited in this territory rich in natural resources and minerals. As a result, the area has turned into one of the most picturesque forests on the planet.
It will be most comfortable to walk around the park from May to October, as long as there is no rain. Tourists are prohibited from spending the night in tents in the forest. However, you can stay a couple of days in the park at the Il Fuorn hotel or the Chamanna Cluozza hut.
Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com
Ecology
We all know that forests play the role of the lungs of our planet, but every year they become less and less, mainly due to human activities. Population growth and our growing demands are the main reasons for the destruction of forests around the world. In their place pastures and fields appear. Many conservationists are convinced that it is still possible to save forests if we put enough effort into it.
1) Amazon Rainforest
One of the most endangered forests on the planet is the Amazon rainforest. In the second half of April, people from all over the world planted young trees in these places in honor of Earth Day celebrations. However, these noble attempts are not enough to completely restore the forests of the Amazon basin, which are decreasing in area every year due to human activities.
Richard Donovan, Vice President of Sustainable Forestry at the Rainforest Alliance says: “It is very good that we are planting new trees, but this is not enough, we need to preserve the existing forest.”
Although deforestation in the Amazon has slowed slightly over the past few decades, the forest is still being deforested on a larger scale than any other on the planet.
Huge areas are being cleared of vegetation to create pastures for livestock, as well as fields for growing crops such as soybeans and, a little earlier, palm trees for oil production.
Another problem is the construction of roads through forests, which helps loggers, farmers and gold miners to freely operate in these places.
2) Rainforests of Madagascar
The tropical forests of the island of Madagascar, which is located in the Indian Ocean relatively close to the southeastern coast of Africa, are home to a huge number of rare and unique animals. Many of them are now critically endangered and could become extinct once the island's wet and dry forests are cleared.
The biggest threat to Madagascar's forests is that poverty reigns in the country, forcing many citizens to cut down forests in order to survive. Madagascar is home to valuable tree species, including ebony and mahogany, which are in high demand on the world market.
Madagascar's government has tried to police some areas on the island, but it's nearly impossible to get rid of poachers entirely, Donovan said.
3) Forest Islands Philippines
Forests in the Philippines are also very sensitive, under pressure from tourism, invasive species, and sea levels rising due to global warming.
“Another challenge for forests is the growth of the middle class, so the higher the income, the higher the consumption.”"Donovan said. Many forests are cut down for the valuable wood used to make expensive furniture.
4) Mesoamerican forests
Mesoamerica's forests, an area that spans southern Mexico and Central America, are increasingly being destroyed by farmers to make way for agricultural fields, livestock pastures and tourist resorts.
The east coast of this region on the Atlantic side is home to the mahogany tree, one of the world's most valuable tropical trees.
Another problem for the health of Mesoamerican forests is the drug trade, which is quite well developed in these places. "The drug trade makes this region very unstable. If there is no stability, it is very difficult to protect the forest. The priority is placed on completely different things.""Donovan said.
5) Congo rainforests
The Congo rainforest, which is second in size only to the Amazon forest, extends across 6 African countries. They are disappearing at a high rate due to agricultural development. Trees are cut down and replaced by fields where crops such as cassava and oil palm are grown.
Of all the world's threatened forests, those of the Congo Basin are the most vulnerable, partly because the region is plagued by ongoing military conflict.
6) Sunderland Forests
The rainforests of Malaysia, Indonesia and parts of Papua New Guinea are sometimes referred to generically as the Sunderland Forests. Like many endangered forests, Sunderland's forests are suffering the most from agricultural development.
7) Coastal forests of East Africa
According to Donovan, the forest, located near the ancient city of Gedi (Kenya), is one of the most vulnerable forests on the planet.
Eastern Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique are home to the tropical and subtropical forests of East Africa, which are now severely depleted due to the cutting down of trees and the creation of farms that could provide food for the growing populations of these countries.
Donovan believes that these forests can still be saved if reliable protection is organized. Conservationists in South America, for example, have prepared their own approach to protecting forests in their territories. The idea is that a small group of people can take better care of the local areas where they live than the government, which can only issue certain laws for the entire country. Mexico, Brazil and America already have such teams of nature conservationists. Similar organizations have already begun to work in Africa and Asia.
8) Rainforests of the Himalayas
Tropical and subtropical forests of the Himalayas extend across Nepal, Burma, Laos and northern India. These forests are under enormous pressure today, Donovan said. They are being destroyed to meet the needs of the growing local population, as well as the middle classes of China and India.
9) Savannah forest, South America
The Cerrado Forest in Brazil is one of the largest savanna areas in the world. The famous savannas of Africa are home to animals such as elephants and lions, while the savannas of eastern South America are home to far fewer famous animals. Here you can find maned wolves, common rheas and flightless birds.
The forests of the Cerrado are threatened by agriculture, charcoal mining, water projects and ranching.
10) Atlantic dry forests
Atlantic dry forests are located in eastern Brazil. They have been under threat for many years due to the development of agriculture and cattle breeding.
Donovan believes that protecting these forests, and all the other forests in the world, requires the help of not only local residents, but also everyone else on the planet. "Look at what surrounds you,- he says. – Perhaps the next time you go grocery shopping, you'll think carefully about whether you should take something that you can easily do without?
The problem is that we have begun to consume too much, which we could previously do without, and because of our excessive consumption, nature suffers.