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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I am the walrus
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The Unfinished Obelisk near Aswan, Egypt
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Bryce Canyon National Park turns 100
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Welcome to the drainpipe of the Pacific
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Papa was a flightless bird
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Dalyan, Turkey
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World Nature Conservation Day
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Into the woods
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Spotted eagle rays in the Galápagos Islands
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What kind of bird laid these eggs?
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Assembling the Smithsonian
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Inhale and exhale, it’s Yoga Day
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Petrified Forest National Park
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Taking the forest to the cloud
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What s cuter than nuzzling rhinos?
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It s not always sunny in Abu Simbel…
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Manatees rebound
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Jaguar in the Pantanal wetlands
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Long-eared owl in the Czech Republic
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Dashing through the snow
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The 80th anniversary of D-Day
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National Trails Day
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Take the stairs
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Agüero, Huesca province, Spain
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Christmas market at Belvedere Palace in Vienna
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Valentines Day
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Groundhog Day
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International Literacy Day
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New York City Marathon
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

