There are so many fascinating things to experience in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL that even the locals are just discovering. So, we decided to start a new blog series called Did You Know? We are going to share with you interesting facts, fun activities and more that we may not have known about.
Did you know the Gulf of Mexico is home to an underwater forest? As we were reading the most recent publishing from the Mullet Wrapper, which has been covering local news here in Baldwin County since 1999, we came across an article documenting an underwater forest just 10 miles south of Gulf Shores. The forest was originally discovered because of a rumor about a “honey hole” fishing spot. Ben Raines, an investigative reporter from Fairhope, asked a local diver to take him to the spot. At this "honey hole" Raines found a forest of cypress tress that existed above water when the sea levels were around 400 feet lower than they are today. This discovery was documented in a film, written and directed by Ben Raines that aired on Alabama Public Television earlier this week. The underwater forest was also featured in an article by the Washington Post.
We can’t wait to discover more fun facts about our area! Follow us on social media and let us know if there is a unique subject matter you’d like us to cover in our next Did You Know article! Get #backtothebeach and have fun discovering interesting facts, fun activities and more. Need to find a place to stay while exploring? We’ve got you covered!