Beech trees are pretty amazing. There are several species worldwide, but the European beech steals the spotlight in much of Europe. With its smooth gray bark, short trunk, and sweeping branches, this tree is a standout in Belgium"s forests, as shown in today"s image. It grows in temperate regions and prefers well-drained, fertile soils, taking up to 30 years to mature. Not only do these 160-foot-tall trees dominate the landscape, but their wood is also used to make some of the sturdiest furniture, flooring, and even kitchen tools.
European beech forest, Belgium
Today in History
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A holiday beacon of light
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Porto Timoni beach, Greece
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Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming
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National Trails Day
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A visit to Limerick on Limerick Day
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Mount Pico, Portugal
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A Festivus for the rest of us
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This park is Superkilen
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Grandparents Day
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Balloons and camels are two ways to catch a ride here
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Grand Teton National Park
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Independence Day of the Argentine Republic
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A spectacle unlike any other
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International Nurses Day
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Road-trip worthy attraction in the heartland
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Grasmere, Lake District, Cumbria, England
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Let the Highland games begin
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Old man s whiskers growing wild
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Patriot Day
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Happy Independence Day!
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Arctic fox in Norway
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International Museum Day
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Headed to the High Country
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Penguin Awareness Day
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Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
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Brown bears in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska
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Spring equinox
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A bison preserve
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International Whale Shark Day
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

