Crooked Forest, Nature reserve in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland.
Crooked Forest is a small woodland area near Gryfino in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, that contains roughly 400 pines with identical curves near their base. The trees all bend in the same direction, forming a smooth arc before continuing upward again.
The pines were likely planted in the early 1930s when this region still belonged to Germany. Foresters may have deliberately bent young trees to produce specific wood shapes for furniture making or tools, though the exact purpose remains unknown.
The forest attracts photographers from across Europe who try to capture the uniform curves of the trunks in early morning light. Walkers often follow a short loop trail that winds between the bent pines, offering chances to observe the shape of each individual tree up close.
The forest sits right beside the road between Gryfino and Nowe Czarnowo, making it easy to reach from either town. A short trail runs through the area, allowing visitors to see and photograph the bent pines from different angles.
Scientists have repeatedly tried to reproduce the growth pattern of these pines by manipulating young trees in similar ways, yet none have achieved the perfect uniformity of the Gryfino stand. The exact method the original foresters used to create the bend has remained a puzzle that continues to raise questions in botany.
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