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Where in the World is the Crooked Forest?
A Grove of Potbellied Pines
This week, we leave the tropical for the mystical. More known for its snow than sand, the Crooked Forest is full of questions about its origin.
Poland
This natural monument is located in the village of Nowe Czarnowo near the town of Gryfino, West Pomerania, in north-western Poland. The tiny village of 660 people has become accustomed to tourists, scientists, photographers, and even film crews exploring the forest in search of answers.
In the forest stand over 80 unusual trees across a five-acre expanse unlike any others in the world. The pine trees rise from the ground, but then bend almost 90 degrees into a sharp curve. They curve back and then grow straight up like typical trees, with their “humps” all facing northward. Most are around 50 feet tall.
It is speculated that the trees were planted between 1930 and 1945, making them saplings during World War II. Gryfino was mostly abandoned during this time, as its closest neighbor, the city of Szczecin was under Nazi control. Villagers did not return until the 1970s, so it’s hard for anyone to confirm the real cause of the “potbellied” trees.
