"At length we reached that which from a distance appeared like a carpet of fine green turf, but which, to our vexation, turned out to be a compact mass of little beech-trees about four or five feet high. They were as thick together as box in the border of a garden, and we were obliged to struggle over the flat but treacherous surface." Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle
I believe these types of forests are called a krummolz formation and form, particularly in coastal locations, where strong winds stunt tree growth and any individuals that grow above the rest are knocked down. The effect is to create a dense and uniform plant growth. I've seen this on the coast of Newfoundland where the spruces and firs formed a fence so dense you could walk on top of them.
I had a similar perspective as Darwin in a canopy tower outside Manaus. Though we were nearly 30 m in above the forest floor, the canopy was dense enough that appeared to a be a gently rolling landscape.
I had a similar perspective as Darwin in a canopy tower outside Manaus. Though we were nearly 30 m in above the forest floor, the canopy was dense enough that appeared to a be a gently rolling landscape.
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