Autumn brings talk of Halloween and all things haunted. And while we all know Washington is home to some haunted houses and spooky cemeteries, many don't know that we also have our own naturally occurring ghostly phenomenon. And while you won't see any actual spirits at this ghost forest in Washington, it's still pretty eerie.
Washington's ghost forest can be found in the Copalis Beach area.
Copalis Beach is a small coastal community in Grays Harbor County.
A ghost forest is defined as an area of dead trees in former forests that have been invaded by saltwater. In other words, ghost forests are the remains of forests after they've been destroyed.
They're usually found in coastal areas where rising sea levels or tectonic shifts have altered the height of a land mass.
The Ghost Forest of Copalis was created in 1700, when a massive 9.0 earthquake struck the Pacific Ocean and ripped through the entire Pacific Northwest, creating a huge tsunami in the process.
During the massive flood, this land dropped over six feet and was completely submerged in saltwater, turning the dense forest into a marsh. The trees all died at once.
Centuries later, the dead trees still remain; eerie gray stumps and poles with no signs of life.
It took many years for scientists to understand the 1700 Cascadia Earthquake, largely because Native Americans were the only ones here at the time, and they only had oral records of it. The date was eventually confirmed by the Kwakwaka’wakw indigenous group of British Columbia.
It's worth noting that the ghost forest of Copalis is only accessible by canoe or kayak from an informal launch site in the middle of the town of Copalis Beach.
The road access is gated and on private property, so if you want to see it, you'll have to paddle your way there.
This is one of only eight known ghost forests in the U.S., and it's the only one of its kind in Washington.
If you're in the area, it's well-worth checking out. Just remember to leave no trace and be respectful of private property.
Did you know Washington had a ghost forest? Check out this awesome King 5 YouTube video to see more.
https://youtu.be/azyZCuKHwmc
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