Top 5 enchanted forests
Cheapflights.com picked its top five favourite forests from across the planet
[attach id="250877" size="medium"]Zhangjiajie was named a Unesco Global Geopark in 2004.[/attach]
1. Crooked Forest, Poland
Looking like it fell out of a surreal Salvador Dalí painting, the Crooked Forest (Krzywy Las) outside Nowe Czarnowo, Poland, has intrigued the public for more than 80 years.
The grove of about 400 pines was planted around 1930 in the former German province of Pomerania. The accepted cause of the forest’s distinctive curve is some form of man-made tool or technique, but the method and motive remain unknown.
2. Sagano Bamboo Forest, Japan
On the outskirts of Kyoto, Arashiyama has been a tourist hot spot since the 8th century. The park is particularly popular when the spring cherry blossoms bloom and in the autumn when the forest takes on a hue of fiery oranges and reds.
Within this nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty lies the impressive bamboo forest of Sagano. A path cuts through the towering bamboo grove and when the sun is shining and a gentle breeze is blowing, the setting is truly picturesque.
3. Black Forest, Germany
No list of enchanting forests would be complete without the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) in Germany. This wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg was named by the Romans because dense conifers blocked out most of the light inside the forest.
The forest is ripe with peaks, rivers, lakes, towns, waterfalls, footpaths, mountain biking and cross-country skiing trails and unique wildlife.
But it’s not just natural beauty on offer. The area has strong culture that includes a tradition of wood-carving (particularly cuckoo clocks) and food (Black Forest ham, gateau and gourmet cuisine).
4. Caddo Lake, the US
Despite the name, this is one fantastic forest. Located on the border between Texas and Louisiana, Caddo Lake is a 25,400-acre maze of waterways, bayous, sloughs, channels, islands and cypress thickets dripping with Spanish moss.
Named after the southeastern Native Americans who lived in the area until their expulsion in the 19th century, the lake is home to the world’s largest cypress forest.
This protected wetland hosts a variety of wildlife, including beavers, woodpeckers, owls and alligators.
5. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China
In 1982, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park was recognised as China’s first national forest park.
Located in Zhangjiajie City in northern China, this unique national forest was named a Unesco Global Geopark in 2004. The most notable features of the forest are the giant pillar-like formations that are seen throughout the park. The year-round wet weather is the reason for the park’s dense foliage.