Rare footage appears to show a Canadian forest 'breathing'.  

Scenes filmed in Quebec's Sacré-Cœur went viral, earlier this week, after the earth appeared to inhale and exhale at will - despite being populated with heavy, towering trees.

In reality, it was the flexible roots countering the force of gale-force winds, which momentarily raised the base's topsoil.

Nonetheless, viewers were still amazed at the optical illusion, which scientists say is a relatively common phenomenon.

Natural wonder: Scenes filmed in Quebec's Sacré-Cœur went viral, this week, after the earth appeared to inhale and exhale at will - despite being populated with heavy, towering trees

Typically, it happens when the ground becomes saturated with water, which reduces the soil’s cohesion.

As the strong winds create force, this is transferred down the stem and into the roots which, in turn, shifts the earth up and down. 

'During a rain and windstorm event the ground becomes saturated, 'loosening' the soil's cohesion with the roots as the wind is blowing on a tree's crown,' arborist Mark Vanderwouw told The Weather Network.

'The wind is trying to 'push' the trees over, and as the force is transferred to the roots, the ground begins to 'heave'. 

'If the winds were strong enough and lasted long enough more roots would start to break and eventually some of the trees would topple.'  

The scenes, which were filmed by a local resident named Jean Arthur and later uploaded on the Weather Network, racked-up more than 3,000,000 views. 

Explained: Typically, it happens when the ground becomes saturated with water, which reduces the soil’s cohesion

Viral with 3 million views: Viewers were still amazed at the optical illusion, which scientists say is a relatively common phenomenon

WHAT'S THE SCIENCE BEHIND 'BREATHING EARTH'? 

 - Typically, this phenomenon happens when the ground becomes saturated with water, reduces the soil’s cohesion

- As strong winds create force at the top of trees, this is transferred down the stem and into the roots 

- This, in turn, shifts the earth up and down because the tree's disc-shaped roots are near to the ground's surface

- All tree roots move to varying degrees, but it's typically not invisible because of their depth

Back in 2015, a Nova Scotia resident obtained similar footage in Apple River, Cumberland County.  

In a Facebook post, Brian Nuttall said: 'As I entered a patch of trees spared from clear cutting, I noticed the ground moving.'

'I believe the larger trees are doomed to blow down but are currently spared, the smaller trees around them help hold each other up, as the wind pushes the trees into one another.

'The punishing prevailing winds have taken their toll on the side hill, the roots have loosened and the mossy ground from the once shaded forest floor are giving way, soon to be toppled over,' he said in comments reported by CBC news.