Neskowin Ghost Forest
{{Short description|Remnants of a Sitka spruce forest on the Oregon Coast in the U.S.}}
File:Neskowin Ghost Forest - 2016.jpg
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.{{cite web|last1=Fish|first1=Peter|title=The ghost forest|url=http://www.sunset.com/travel/northwest/ghost-forest|website=Sunset|accessdate=13 December 2016}} Although many local geologists believe this ghost forest (and others on the Pacific NW coast) were caused by gradual dune encroachment, meaning sand dunes built up and covered the Sitka trees – not in an abrupt drop.https://www.beachconnection.net/news/neskowin_ghost_forest_origin.phpHart, R., & Peterson, C. (2007). Late‐Holocene buried forests on the Oregon Coast. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32(2), 210-229. Many of the stumps are over 2,000 years old, preserved by the salt water, which does not favor lignin-decomposing fungus.{{cite web|title=OSU research of ancient stumps should continue despite criticism |url=http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ncs/lifeatosu/2008/osu-research-of-ancient-stumps-should-continue-despite-criticism/|website=LIFE@OSU|accessdate=13 December 2016|date=12 November 2008}}
History
The stumps were unearthed when turbulent storms swept away sand during the winter of 1997–1998.{{cite web|last1=Bettey|first1=Sarah|title=Neskowin ghost forest|url=http://traveloregon.com/trip-ideas/oregon-stories/neskowin-ghost-forest/|website=Travel Oregon|accessdate=13 December 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Cain|first1=Brad|title=El Nino reveals traces of ancient forest in Oregon surf|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-05-mn-36152-story.html|access-date=13 December 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=5 April 1998}} It is one of over thirty ghost forests along the Oregon and Washington Coast, though many appear as flat roots and not stumps.{{cite web|title=In search of more Oregon coast ghost forests|url=http://www.beachconnection.net/news/ghostfor010912_650.php|website=BeachConnections.net|accessdate=13 December 2016}} Most notably, Washington's ghost forest of red cedars was integral to the discovery of the Cascadia fault line.{{cite news|last1=Schulz|first1=Kathryn|title=The really big one|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one|accessdate=13 December 2016|work=The New Yorker|date=20 July 2015}} These ghost forests are evidence of significant, rapid changes in coastline – often due to seismic events such as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake.{{cite web|last1=Spitz|first1=Tullan|title=How scientists know when the last big earthquake happened here|url=http://www.opb.org/news/series/unprepared/jan-26-1700-how-scientists-know-when-the-last-big-earthquake-happened-here/|website=OPB: Oregon Public Broadcasting|accessdate=13 December 2016}}
The stumps at Neskowin are 2,000 years old, according to carbon dating.{{cite journal|last1=Hart|first1=Roger|last2=Peterson|first2=Curt|title=Episodically buried forests in the Oregon surf zone|journal=Oregon Geology|date=1997|volume=59|issue=6|pages=131–144|url=http://www.oregongeology.org/pubs/og/OGv59n06.pdf|accessdate=12 December 2016}} While living, the trees that make up the Neskowin Ghost Forest were similar to present-day coastal rain forest. They stood {{convert|150.|–|200.|ft}} high and were at least 200 years old when buried.{{cite web|title=Twin Oregon coast secret attractions 4,000 years in the making|url=http://www.beachconnection.net/news/secretatt041415_640.php|website=www.beachconnection.net|accessdate=13 December 2016}} 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 – 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.{{cite web|title=Neskowin Beach state recreation site|url=http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=161|website=oregonstateparks.org|publisher=Oregon State Parks and Recreation|accessdate=13 December 2016}} 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.){{cite web|last1=Neal|first1=Leanne|title=Winter low tides reveal Neskowin Ghost Forest|url=http://tillamookcoast.com/winter-low-tides-reveal-neskowin-ghost-forest/|website=Tillamook Coast|accessdate=12 December 2016}}
Gallery
File:Neskowin Ghost Forest August 2017.jpg|Neskowin Ghost Forest in August 2017
File:Neskowin Ghost Forest Stump Close Up.jpg|Large tree stump protruding from beach sand
File:Neskowin Stumps at Proposal Rock.jpg|Tree stumps visible with Proposal Rock in background.
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1EYYZ2SdV0 Oregon news, 'Ghost Forest' in Neskowin completely revealed by extremely low tide]
External links
{{Portal|Oregon}}
- [http://vimeo.com/22313994 Vimeo video of the Neskowin Ghost Forest]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EMLZPlEKzs YouTube video of the Neskowin Ghost Forest]
- [https://www.oregonlive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/07/cfaa67c4ac2091/index.html Additional photos]
{{coord|45.09773|N|123.98917|W|type:landmark_region:US-OR|display=title}}
Category:Tillamook County, Oregon