It is a strange phenomenon: thousands of large, perfectly round "forest rings" dot the boreal landscape of northern Ontario.

From the air, these mysterious light-coloured rings of stunted tree growth are clearly visible, but on the ground, you could walk right through them without noticing them. They range in diameter from 30 metres to 2 kilometres, with the average ring measuring about 91 metres across. Over 2,000 of these forest rings have been documented, but scientists estimate the actual number is more than 8,000.

What causes these near-perfect circles in the forest?

Since they were discovered on aerial photos about 50 years ago, the rings have baffled biologists, geologists and foresters. Some explanations put a UFO or extraterrestrial spin on the phenomenon. Astronomers suggest the rings might be the result of meteor strikes. Prospectors wonder whether the formations signal diamond-bearing kimberlites, a type of igneous rock.
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Pretty cool. I wonder when they will find the explanation..

Fifty years? That seems enough time that the phenomenon would be better known by now. Hmm, I've never heard of this. Perhaps fairy rings, glory? (glancing at your avatar......)

The arial view was really neat.. Amazing right, you can be walking right through these trees and never realize the circle. Interesting

These could be bad rings that are causing harm and should be stopped.



Re-creating one of these circles in a lab would be neat.



That could be the most amazing discovery. I say it might be them all along and nothing to do with giant, natural electrochemical cells.

So Nature is really the one killing us slowly. Are they crop circles??

These rings reminds me of a smaller version called 'Fairy rings' or mushroom rings. Wiki

A fungus that spreads out in a circle starting from the center then outwards, searching for nutrients.

"Because force goes out in a circle," Hamilton says. "For example, throw a stick in the water. At first it makes a stick shape when it hits the water, then perfect circles go out from that. Electricity is just the same."

Rippling seems like a logical explanation...

I guess Nature has to do something to save herself

That's what I was thinking. Fungus. Really, really old fungus colonies that expanded outward over many, many years.