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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AAPI Heritage Month & Lei Day
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The Vestibule at Diocletian s Palace, Split, Croatia
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Quilts as high art
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International Archaeology Day
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Masai giraffes in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
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Boxing Day in East Yorkshire, England
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Are you older than this lake?
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Kirkjufell, Iceland
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Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
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Get the bear facts
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Gemsbok in Namibian sand dunes
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Bathing in the light of Pride
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A meerkat stands alone
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Muskoxen in Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway
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Dreaming of the Tyrrhenian Sea
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Folegandros Island, Cyclades, Greece
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A light at the edge of the world
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Indigenous Peoples Day
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St. Patricks Day in County Waterford, Ireland
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A species worth defending
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National Park Service Founders Day
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Road-trip worthy attraction in the heartland
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Halfway Day
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Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
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Midnight sun
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Composite image of a lunar eclipse
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Talk like a pirate—or walk the plank
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Drop in on International Surfing Day
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Dancing waters of Dubai
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St. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights, Michigan
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

