Sunken Forest
Jordan stands in front of a single Pitch Pine, (Pinus rigida) that has been shaped over the years by harsh storms. If you crawl under the mound, you can see the enormous twisted trunk of this pine.
The Sunken Forest is located on Fire Island National Seashore, New York. This old-growth forest has been designated by the New York Natural Heritage Program as being "globally rare" and is mostly dominated by American holy (llex opaca).
The oldest trees reaching up to 300 years old. Other species that can be found in the forest are Sassafras, Black Gum, Shadbush, and some Oak species. There is a double dune system that protects the Sunken forest, as well as gives it its name.
Black Tupelo Canopy
To learn more about the condition and history behind the Sunken Forest, Gathering Growth interviewed Jordan Raphael, the Park Biologist at the Fire Island National Seashore.
One of the largest American Holly’s in the Park.
An example of the forest bottom turning into a salt marsh.
The scene on the bayside of the Sunken Forest. Erosion and the die-off of Black Gum and American Holly.