The forests of Romania are steeped in mystery and legend and have been a source of wonder and fascination for generations. From the lush, dense forests of the Carpathian Mountains to the rolling hills of Transylvania, these areas are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, and are considered to be some of the most biologically diverse forests in Europe.
One of the most well-known mysteries of the Romanian forests is the legend of the werewolves, or strigoi, that are said to roam the countryside at night. These creatures are believed to be shape-shifting humans who have sold their souls to the devil in exchange for immortality and supernatural powers.
Another mystery of the Romanian forests is the existence of the “hoia baciu” forest, also known as the “UFO forest”. This small forest near Cluj-Napoca is considered by many to be one of the most haunted and enigmatic forests in the world. People have reported strange sights and sounds, including glowing orbs and ghostly apparitions, as well as feelings of disorientation and fear when entering the forest.
Although the forest appears to be a typical forest, reports of unusual events over the last three decades have caught the attention of both the press and scientists.
UFO sightings, giant red frogs, disappearing black crypts, and other bizarre incidents have been reported in the Baciu Forest, particularly after 1989. This prompted scientists to launch a series of investigations and observations, both in Europe and the United States, after a photo of a UFO flying over the forest was published in 1968.
Biology expert Alexandru Sift was one of the first researchers to study the Baciu Forest’s strange occurrences. In the 1950s, Sift walked through the forest and discovered unusual formations that he initially thought were natural. However, after taking photos, he realized that the number of structures was much greater than what could be seen by the naked eye. This led to a series of investigations and an increase in observations and photographs.
In recent years, research teams from countries such as France, Germany, and Hungary have come to the Baciu Forest to continue Sift’s research. Adrian Patrut, the president of the Romanian Parapsychological Society and a doctoral candidate at the “Babes-Bolyai” University of Cluj-Napoca, is one of the latest researchers to study the Baciu Forest. After 32 years of research, Patrut believes that an unknown phenomenon is occurring in the forest that connects with the human brain and manifests itself in physical reality.
Adrian Patrut, a professor from Cluj, has conducted the latest analysis of the most common phenomena in the Baciu forest. According to him, the most noticeable characteristics include flying objects, both visible and invisible, that can take the form of cylindrical, conical, and semi-circular shapes, often resembling UFO-like formations. He also observed static or flying colored lights at night, and in rare cases, biological effects on vegetation and even animals and humans.
One of the most memorable occurrences was a 50-meter long cigarette-shaped UFO, filmed for 27 seconds by two residents of Cluj-Napoca in 2002. The camera captured the UFO’s flight across the sky, moving up and down before disappearing into a cloud mass.
Despite extensive research, Patrut has found no scientific explanation or correlation with religious beliefs for these strange formations, and instead suggests that the Baciu forest’s location in a seismic area with rocks possessing inverted geomagnetic properties may be a contributing factor.
According to Patrut, the phenomena observed in the forest exist in an intermediate reality, which is a combination of objective physical reality and subjective consciousness. He believes that any attempt to categorize these events as solely objective would only cause them to return to their usual state in the intermediate reality.
Patrut also notes that there are similar places around the world, such as the Mojave Desert, Gulf Breeze in the US, La Spezia and Arenzano in Italy, the Hessdalen Valley in Norway, and Belo Horizonte in Brazil, that suggest the existence of a complex, earth-embracing phenomenon yet to be fully understood by us. He considers the Baciu forest to be the most significant known area for inexplicable occurrences, given the complexity, intensity, and diversity of the phenomena observed.
In conclusion, Patrut believes that there are two kinds of laws in nature; general natural laws that cover a large area and produce natural phenomena, and unnatural laws that cover a small area and result in anomalous phenomena.
Despite the many legends and mysteries surrounding the forests of Romania, they are also home to a rich and vibrant cultural heritage, and have been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. Whether you’re interested in folklore, or the natural world, or simply want to explore some of the most beautiful and mysterious forests in Europe, Romania is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to uncover the mysteries of the forest.