Ancient Enchanted Grove Has Unique Candelabra-Shaped Redwoods

The breathtaking Lost Coast of California is probably one of the most pristine natural coastlines you can find in the US. In this part of the California North Coast that covers Humboldt and Mendocino counties, including the King Range, there are hardly any traces of human intervention on the landscape. In the 1930s, the area experienced depopulation as it would have been too costly to build a state highway or even county roads there due to the steepness and related geotechnical challenges of the coastal mountains – hence the name “Lost Coast”. Today, it is the most undeveloped and remote portion of the California coast that is home to some amazing natural sceneries. Impressively reiterated old-growth redwoods that are shaped like candelabras
In the heart of this untouched wilderness, in Shady Dell forest in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, there is a small but rather bizarre-looking hillside grove of some impressively reiterated old-growth redwoods that are shaped like candelabras. Just a few feet off the ground, the trees seem to have been split into a dozen trunks, each reaching to the sky like huge candleholders.

Whereas redwoods typically grow straight up, the unique shape of these trees is due to stressors – strong winds and salty air above all – causing them to have sprouted branches near the ground. Then when conditions improved, the branches grew straight up, becoming secondary (reiterated) trunks.