12 Unbelievable Submerged and Underwater Forests Around the World
Submerged and underwater forests can be found all over the world. The term covers multiple types of forests, but commonly describes those with remains of trees that have been drowned due to rising sea levels and have been preserved thanks to cold water temperatures. These types of forests are often formed when a dam is established on a river, causing water to back up and create a lake over established forests. But not all underwater forests are dead. Some involve cypress or mangrove trees, which have special roots that allow them to breathe air and survive while submerged.
Kelp forests are also examples of living underwater forests. Growing in dense groupings, kelp, which is actually large, brown algae, provides critical habitat for marine wildlife.1 Kelp forests are also key players in greenhouse gas regulation, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.2
Underwater forests are fascinating places no matter their type. Long-dead forests offer valuable history lessons, while living ones support unique wildlife and often benefit the environment. Let’s explore a variety of submerged forests across the world.
Wood from a 60,000-year-old bald cypress forest in the Underwater Forest in Alabama.
Francis Choi / NOAA
An ancient underwater forest teeming with aquatic life exists just off the coast of Alabama in the United States. Scientists discovered the cypress forest 60 feet underwater in the Gulf of Mexico after giant waves resulting from 2004’s Hurricane Ivan uncovered it. Researchers believe the forest had been buried beneath sediments in the Gulf for ages and might date back to an ice age more than 60,000 years ago.3 When the forest was young, sea levels were about 400 feet lower than they are today.4 Rising water eventually hid the forest from plain sight.
Under the surface, aquatic life thrives. Thousands of trees are still rooted there, providing unique habitat and foraging opportunities for aquatic animals, including mantis shrimp, crabs, anemones, and a number of fish species. Because the forest dates back millennia, it can provide valuable information about its region’s history, from climate change to biodiversity patterns.
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