“Magic pine” on the Baltic Sea. Few people know where to find it

The Hel Peninsula is a 35-kilometer long spit created by the sea current in the Baltic Sea flowing east along the Polish coast. This unique place, favored by water sports enthusiasts – surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing – is largely forested due to its special conditions. And in one of the Hel forests we can find a unique tree called the “magic pine”. What did she do to deserve this name?

Unique forests on the Hel Peninsula

Due to the climatic conditions and specific soil, the peninsula has vegetation that is typical of the coast. Much of it is covered with dunes and sand, and such ground is not very favorable for many species. Plants that can be found here include sand honkenia and sea cress. Many areas closer to the Baltic Sea shore are overgrown with sandworts and common sandworts. However, the natural plant for the central part of the peninsula is pine.

A pine forest runs through the middle of the spit. The forest covers as much as 57%. a separate mesoregion, which is Hel. Scots pine copes perfectly with difficult conditions, which is why it grows on gray dunes without any problems. However, as a result of the local conditions – strong wind or sea salt – these pines look different than in many parts of Poland.

They are deformed, twisted, their trunks and crowns are asymmetrical. They cover the somewhat hilly natural landscape and sometimes appear out of nowhere. In addition, many of them are located in an area that was fortified from the 1920s to the 1950s. We often find rusty fences around it, and the tracks of the former narrow-gauge railway of the Hel Fortified Area run through the middle. It was created for military purposes in 1934-1938. It was intended to deliver ammunition, but is now a tourist attraction. About 19 km of tracks have survived, which are now partially absorbed by nature.

While walking through this region, you can come across a “magic pine tree”. It stands out from the rest in that it is very spreading, its branches are partly close to the ground, and it grows in the middle of a clearing that is impossible to miss. However, you first need to know which direction to go in the forest to get to this place.

“Magic pine” in Hel

The “magic pine” in Hel is not difficult to find. However, few tourists still know about it. Driving along the Hel Peninsula towards the city of Hel on road 216, turn right into the first street in front of the Coastal Defense Museum. It leads to the AM Rewita Kormoran resort, where there is also a camping site. Tourist infrastructure awaits guests on the right, and the “magic pine” grows a little further on the left. Continuing straight along this road, we will reach the wreck of ORP Wicher II.

Those who have discovered the pine appreciate its beauty. It even has its own “pin” on Google Maps, as well as over 100 opinions as a tourist attraction.

“An extremely charming place. The pine tree looks really unusual and is worth seeing. We almost missed it because the place is not marked in any way. You can get there easily on foot or by bike”, “A very majestic place. The pine tree is impressive and noticeable from the road, because such a fancy tree is impossible to miss,” tourists write.

Apart from the pine tree, others recommend visiting the nearby swings suspended just above the Bay of Puck, as well as the nearby observation tower, which offers an unusual view.

“One of several interesting attractions on helium. Beautiful nature and wonderful nature, a magical forest, swings on the shore, and an adrenaline-inducing observation tower. I recommend it…” adds another commentator.