An Ancient Forest Lies Beneath The Surface Of Lake Sammamish In Washington

You love to swim and play at Lake Sammamish State Park but did you know that the lake has a secret? If you were able to swim to the bottom of the lake, you’d find yourself in a different world… believe it or not, there’s a spooky ancient forest down there.

Head toward the southern end of the lake and you might notice several jagged, gray logs sticking up from the water. They don't look like much to the untrained eye, but they're actually the only signs of the ancient, well-preserved underwater forest that’s been sitting at the bottom of the lake for well over a thousand years. How does this happen? The answer is a little unsettling -- it starts with an earthquake.

A thousand years ago, a violent earthquake shook the region and pushed huge pieces of land up to 20 feet in the air. As a result, massive landslides occurred.

The forest at the bottom of this lake exists because of one of those landslides. Huge chunks of earth broke away from the lake’s shores and slid into the water, including the trees. The nearby Lake Washington also has an underwater forest for this exact reason.

A few divers have dared to go down and explore the forest at the bottom of Lake Sammamish, which they describe as spooky.

Of course, you'd never know there was a massive ancient forest under this beautiful body of water. On the surface, it's as peaceful as can be.