A Hidden Forest Has Quietly Been Growing In North America For Decades

Could an entire forest grow for hundreds of years right by a major urban center without anyone noticing? Turns out, one cluster of trees on the Niagara Escarpment has been doing just that.

Here’s what you need to know about this fascinating ancient forest that has defied the odds.

Google/ Lilian Francisquete

The Niagara Escarpment is a steep slope that runs through New York, Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Niagara Falls actually plunges over one cliff in the Niagara Escarpment. This vast region is covered in forests and runs along long stretches of coastline. It’s a popular region for hikers and scientists alike, especially now that one of its major secrets has been revealed.

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Researchers studying the Niagara Escarpment in the 1980s discovered that some of the trees lining the cliffs were actually much older than previously thought. Scientists had assumed that the scraggly trees clinging to the stone faces of the cliffs were perhaps 60 or 70 years old due to their relatively small size and sickly appearance. After testing, it was revealed that these trees are hundreds of years old.

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Some of the first trees they tested were 600 and 700 years old. As more research was conducted, scientists discovered trees that were even older. One tree hanging upside down from a rock was found to be 875 years old, and another dead tree was estimated to be a staggering 1,800 years old when it was uprooted. That’s arguably the oldest tree ever found in America. Combined, these trees formed the oldest forest ecosystem in eastern North America.

This discovery was monumental because these ancient trees were contentedly growing near major cities, highways, and hiking trails. Though many of them can’t be seen without climbing across cliff faces, it’s safe to say that the Niagara Escarpment is a true ecological jewel.