The Neskowin Ghost Forest is the remnants of a Sitka spruce forest on the Oregon Coast of the United States. The stumps were likely created when an earthquake of the Cascadia subduction zone abruptly lowered the trees, that were then covered by mud from landslides or debris from a tsunami.[1] Many of the stumps are over 2,000 years old, preserved by the salt water, which does not favor lignin-decomposing fungus.[2]
The stumps were unearthed when turbulent storms swept away sand during the winter of 1997–1998.[3][4] It is one of over thirty ghost forests along the Oregon and Washington Coast, though many appear as flat roots and not stumps.[5] Most notably, Washington's ghost forest of red cedars was integral to the discovery of the Cascadia fault line.[6] These ghost forests are evidence of significant, rapid changes in coastline – often due to seismic events such as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake.[7]
The stumps at Neskowin are 2,000 years old, according to carbon dating.[8] While living, the trees that make up the Neskowin Ghost Forest were similar to present-day coastal rain forest.[8] They stood 150–200 feet (46–61 m) high[3] and were at least 200 years old when buried.[9] However, it's difficult to determine when or how the trees died, because it occurred before written history in the region. It was originally believed that these trees died slowly, as the roots were gradually submerged in saltwater due to changes in the sea levels. Yet research by geologists revealed that the soil, still present at the roots of the stumps, was buried abruptly[8] – indicating a more sudden and dramatic event, like an earthquake, as the cause.
The ghost forest is near Proposal Rock. It is part of the Neskowin Beach State Recreation Site.[10] The best time to see the stumps is low tide, during winter (due to January, February and March bringing the lowest tides of the year.)[11]
Galleryedit
Stumps of trees at the Neskowin Ghost Forest
Neskowin Ghost Forest in August 2017
Large tree stump protruding from beach sand
Tree Stumps visible with Proposal Rock in background.
Referencesedit
^Fish, Peter. "The ghost forest". Sunset. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
^"OSU research of ancient stumps should continue despite criticism". LIFE@OSU. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
neskowin, ghost, forest, remnants, sitka, spruce, forest, oregon, coast, united, states, stumps, were, likely, created, when, earthquake, cascadia, subduction, zone, abruptly, lowered, trees, that, were, then, covered, from, landslides, debris, from, tsunami, . The Neskowin Ghost Forest is the remnants of a Sitka spruce forest on the Oregon Coast of the United States The stumps were likely created when an earthquake of the Cascadia subduction zone abruptly lowered the trees that were then covered by mud from landslides or debris from a tsunami 1 Many of the stumps are over 2 000 years old preserved by the salt water which does not favor lignin decomposing fungus 2 Stumps of trees at the Neskowin Ghost Forest Contents 1 History 2 Gallery 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory editThe stumps were unearthed when turbulent storms swept away sand during the winter of 1997 1998 3 4 It is one of over thirty ghost forests along the Oregon and Washington Coast though many appear as flat roots and not stumps 5 Most notably Washington s ghost forest of red cedars was integral to the discovery of the Cascadia fault line 6 These ghost forests are evidence of significant rapid changes in coastline often due to seismic events such as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake 7 The stumps at Neskowin are 2 000 years old according to carbon dating 8 While living the trees that make up the Neskowin Ghost Forest were similar to present day coastal rain forest 8 They stood 150 200 feet 46 61 m high 3 and were at least 200 years old when buried 9 However it s difficult to determine when or how the trees died because it occurred before written history in the region It was originally believed that these trees died slowly as the roots were gradually submerged in saltwater due to changes in the sea levels Yet research by geologists revealed that the soil still present at the roots of the stumps was buried abruptly 8 indicating a more sudden and dramatic event like an earthquake as the cause The ghost forest is near Proposal Rock It is part of the Neskowin Beach State Recreation Site 10 The best time to see the stumps is low tide during winter due to January February and March bringing the lowest tides of the year 11 Gallery edit nbsp Stumps of trees at the Neskowin Ghost Forest nbsp Neskowin Ghost Forest in August 2017 nbsp Large tree stump protruding from beach sand nbsp Tree Stumps visible with Proposal Rock in background References edit Fish Peter The ghost forest Sunset Retrieved 13 December 2016 OSU research of ancient stumps should continue despite criticism LIFE OSU 12 November 2008 Retrieved 13 December 2016 a b Bettey Sarah Neskowin ghost forest Travel Oregon Retrieved 13 December 2016 Cain Brad 5 April 1998 El Nino reveals traces of ancient forest in Oregon surf Los Angeles Times Retrieved 13 December 2016 In search of more Oregon coast ghost forests BeachConnections net Retrieved 13 December 2016 Schulz Kathryn 20 July 2015 The really big one The New Yorker Retrieved 13 December 2016 Spitz Tullan How scientists know when the last big earthquake happened here OPB Oregon Public Broadcasting Retrieved 13 December 2016 a b c Hart Roger Peterson Curt 1997 Episodically buried forests in the Oregon surf zone PDF Oregon Geology 59 6 131 144 Retrieved 12 December 2016 Twin Oregon coast secret attractions 4 000 years in the making www beachconnection net Retrieved 13 December 2016 Neskowin Beach state recreation site oregonstateparks org Oregon State Parks and Recreation Retrieved 13 December 2016 Neal Leanne Winter low tides reveal Neskowin Ghost Forest Tillamook Coast Retrieved 12 December 2016 Further reading editOregon news Ghost Forest in Neskowin completely revealed by extremely low tideExternal links edit nbsp Oregon portalVimeo video of the Neskowin Ghost Forest YouTube video of the Neskowin Ghost Forest Additional photos45 05 52 N 123 59 21 W 45 09773 N 123 98917 W 45 09773 123 98917 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neskowin Ghost Forest amp oldid 1192822331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
