Neskowin Ghost Forest

The stumps were likely created when an earthquake of the Cascadia subduction zone abruptly lowered the trees, that were then covered by mud from landslides or debris from a tsunami.

[7] Most notably, Washington's ghost forest of red cedars was integral to the discovery of the Cascadia fault line.

[8] These ghost forests are evidence of significant, rapid changes in coastline – often due to seismic events such as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake.

It was originally believed that these trees died slowly, as the roots were gradually submerged in saltwater due to changes in the sea levels.

Yet research by geologists revealed that the soil, still present at the roots of the stumps, was buried abruptly[10] – indicating a more sudden and dramatic event, like an earthquake, as the cause.