The Crooked Forest in Poland is a section of oddly shaped pine trees. These trees have an unexplainable curve which bends sharply to the north, just above ground level, then curves back upright after a sideways excursion of three to nine feet. To make this forest even more mysterious, the 400 crocked trees are surrounded by a forest of perfectly straight trees.
Why they curve
It is believed that these pines were planted around 1930, but the reason they curve is still a mystery. There are many speculations as the why and how the trees curve.
One belief is that some form of human tool or technique was used to make the trees grow or bend this way, but the method has never been determined or proved. Some believe that the trees were cured on purpose to create naturally curved timber for use in furniture or boat building. Some believe the trees were curved to be rims of wooden cartwheels as the grain direction would have produced very tough wheels.
Another belief is that a snowstorm bent the tree trunks. The belief is that a heavy snowfall weighed down the trees as they were sprouting, causing them to grow crookedly at the base. However, this theory has very little evidence and does not explain why no other vegetation in the area was affected.
Finally, some theorize that a unique gravitational pull in this particular area caused the trees to grow curved northwards. However, this theory has no scientific proof given that gravity pulls things down and not into a curve.
The town of Gryfino, where the forest is located, was largely abandoned at the start of WWII and continued to be abandoned until around 1970. Because of the town abandonment, the people who had the answers to the mysterious curved trees are most likely gone.
There is no definitive answer as to why the trees are curved, only speculations. Despite their curves, the rest of the tree grows straight and tall. This forest is one of those places that leave everyone wondering. Was the curve intentional, or did a higher force manipulate these trees?
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