Deep within the emerald embrace of the Białowieża Forest, on the border of Poland and Belarus, resided a woman who defied convention. Simona Kossak, some called her a witch, others a fairy tale come to life, or simply eccentric. But to the wild denizens of this ancient woodland, she was kin, a protector, a friend. Simona hailed from a celebrated lineage of Polish painters, … [Read more...] about Legendary Conservationist Simona Kossak Lived Her Life in a Forest Hut With a Lynx, a Boar and a Terrorist Crow
Forest
The Mystery of the Crooked Forest
Nobody knows what happened to the pine trees in this strange and eerie forest. To date, it remains a mystery. The Crooked Forest is a grove of 400 oddly shaped pine trees located near the town of Gryfino, West Pomerania in Poland. The pine trees were planted around 1930 when its location was still within the German province of Pomerania. From the base, the pine trees grow … [Read more...] about The Mystery of the Crooked Forest
Be Careful Of What you Whisper in the Forest, for Trees have Ears
Auricularia auricula-judae, commonly known as the Jelly Ear Fungus, is a fascinating species typically found during the winter and spring. It predominantly thrives on deceased elder trees, although it can occasionally be spotted on other hardwoods. While grouped under the term “Jelly Fungi,” these mushrooms don’t belong to a specific taxonomic category but are characterized by … [Read more...] about Be Careful Of What you Whisper in the Forest, for Trees have Ears
Chicken Church: Indonesia’s famed building was built by a man with a dream more than 30yrs ago
Visitors passing by often wonder what a massive, chicken-shaped, stone building is doing standing perched in the middle of a forest in Indonesia. The strange building in the hills of Magelang in central Java province — known locally as Gereja Ayam, or "Chicken Church" — is actually neither a chicken nor a church. The family who constructed and now manage the peculiar … [Read more...] about Chicken Church: Indonesia’s famed building was built by a man with a dream more than 30yrs ago
The Boreal Forest’s Risky Impacts of Climate Change
This summer, there have been frequent heat waves across a large portion of the United States, which has increased the risk of droughts, fires, and general discomfort. The boreal forest, a distinctive ecosystem in the northern hemisphere and one of the largest carbon sinks in the world, has been affected by the heat wave as well. The boreal forest provides many diverse … [Read more...] about The Boreal Forest’s Risky Impacts of Climate Change