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CROOKED FOREST

July 30, 2016 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Poland

The Crooked Forest in Poland is home to one of the biggest mysteries in nature: a grove of about four hundred pine trees with trunks bent and twisted at mind boggling angles.  The weirdest part of these unique trees is whether or not it is a natural phenomenon or if it was done purposely by man, and if the latter, what was the purpose?  Scientists and layman alike have spent decades trying to sort it out.

This strange copse of trees is less than a century old, and was planted (as opposed to having occurred naturally).  Originating in (at the time) Germany in the 1930s, it is possible that the trees were deliberately deformed in infancy to be used as curved construction material (perhaps for furniture).  A more sinister explanation ties the trees to a Nazi experiment, though for unknown purposes.  To date there has been no explanation of how the trees were actually deformed this way.

The Crooked Forest is home to only about four hundred trees dating from the 1930s.  Most of these exhibit the odd, curvature deformaties.  There are also straight trees in the forest as well as typical undergrowth.

The Crooked Forest, now located within the borders of Poland, is an oddity that attracts local daytrippers as well as the scientifically curious.  Trying to discern what caused the strange growth is a popular pastime in the region.  Web: www.gryfino.pl (official Website).

Filed Under: Forest Tagged With: Poland/Lithuania

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About Howard Kramer

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is a culmination of years of his work and passion.

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Welcome to The Complete Pilgrim(TM)! This site, created by Howard Kramer, is a combination travel blog and online guide to the world's greatest sites of religious interest (with some historic and recreational places thrown in for good measure). All written content has been originally researched and produced and is provided free for public research and enjoyment. Thank you for visiting!

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Where would you like to go?

Africa (North) Africa (Sub-Sahara) Arabia Armenia/Azerbaijan/Georgia Australia/Pacific Austria/Switzerland Balkans Belgium/Netherlands British Isles Canada Caribbean Central Asia China Czech Republic Egypt France Germany Greece Hungary/Romania/Bulgaria India (NE)/Nepal India (NW) India (South)/Sri Lanka Iran/Iraq Israel Italy/Malta Japan/Korea Latin America Mexico Palestine Poland/Lithuania Russia Scandinavia Southeast Asia Spain/Portugal Syria/Jordan/Lebanon Turkey/Cyprus Ukraine US-California US-Mid Atlantic US-Midwest US-New England US-New York US-Pacific Northwest US-South US-Southwest

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Have a comment, a great photo or a religious site you'd like to nominate for the weekly spotlight? We would love to hear from you. Email us at hkramer@thecompletepilgrim.com.

About the Author

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is the culmination of years of his work and passion.

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