Scientists Launch Effort to Save Poland's Mysterious Crooked Forest

Solving an Enduring Mystery

Gryfino Forest District signed a cooperation agreement with the West Pomeranian University of Technology to test various bending methods on recently planted trees in an attempt to recreate the effect seen on the original ones, with scientists developing tree-bending technology that will allow them to create a copy of the current crooked tree complex.

The Crooked Forest, located near the town of Gryfino in northwestern Poland, has long intrigued researchers, locals and tourists, yet the reason why the pine trees have such dramatic C-shaped curves at the bottom of their trunks remains unknown. Efforts to better understand the phenomenon have recently accelerated as some of the trees have been dying out, leading to fears that now is the last chance to unravel the mystery.

The Crooked Forest is estimated to have been established around 1934 on a plot of land spanning around 1,600 square metres, with once around 400 of the oddly curved trees, though now only around 100 remain.

Preserving a Unique Landmark

The researchers and local authorities hope that the new project can create a "Crooked Forest 2.0" for future generations to enjoy. The initiative combines scientific study with heritage preservation, a model becoming more common in Poland's approach to protecting unusual natural and historical sites.

For expats and visitors exploring Poland, the Crooked Forest remains one of the country's most peculiar natural wonders—a surreal landscape worth experiencing in person before the remaining trees are lost. The ongoing research adds another layer of intrigue to this UNESCO-protected site.

Sources

• Notes from Poland — Crooked Forest Researchers Seek Solutions