9 incredible trees

National symbols, spiritual icons and works of art: the trees are more than a tangle of roots, branches and leaves.

1 Oak Chapel Allouville-Bellefosse (France)

Trees have many other uses than to serve as firewood or construction. In Australia, some have served in prison, while in South Africa, has installed a bar in one of them. In the France of the seventeenth century, it is the religion that inspired the builders. In 1696, the parish priest 's Allouville-Bellefosse in Caux, aménagea two chapels become hollow in the trunk of the oak this Normandy village. Since then, the chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix and the cell of the Hermit are places of pilgrimage. Oak, over a thousand years and probably the oldest in France, is a historical monument since 1932.

Allouville-Bellefosse is located approximately 43 km northwest of Rouen, at the intersection of D33 and D34.

Wikimedia / Le Ghola 

2 Cedars of God (Lebanon)

Since time immemorial, the cedars of Lebanon admired, fueling conversations serve for the construction or manufacture of medicines. The Phoenicians were the boats, the Egyptians mummified their dead with their resin and the first temple of Solomon was built with timber. Although it still adorns the flag of Lebanon, this conifer once widespread in the country has virtually disappeared. It remains a valuable grove, said the Cedars of God (Arz er-Rab), in the hills of north Lebanon over Bcharre. Last vestiges of a vast forest, some of these trees are over 1000 years.

You can also visit the nearby caves Kadisha Valley, which housed the first Christian monasteries.

3 Jomon Sugi , Yakushima Island (Japan)

Plants do not have faces, but cryptomeria (cedar in Japan , a conifer in the cypress family) has yet several antediluvian. It is estimated that at least 2 old 000 years, and some say up to more than 7000 years. That is why it has become so tortuous, knotty and greyish. Its bulbous trunk, covered nose, chins, folds and wrinkles, evokes the grinning face of an old troll. But probably you keep these thoughts to you seeing this giant (more than 25 m high and 16 m in circumference), the largest and oldest Japanese cedar.

Allow 4 hours walk from the nearest point on the trail Arakawa departure.

Jōmon Sugi, Japon. Frontriver

4 Tane Mahuta , Waipoua forest (New Zealand)

Large kauri forests of the far north of New Zealand give the impression of entering a divine kingdom trees soar to more than 50 m in height, crushing those who venture to their feet. Two venerable dominate the Waipoua Forest: Te Matua Ngahere ("Father of the Forest") rules over his clearing, competed on the north by Tane Mahuta. Named after the Maori god of the forest, the largest living kauri reached 51 m, at an estimated at least 1,200 years old. Impossible not to succumb to the awesome beauty of this silent forest. The kauri, despite their appearance, are brittle: avoid walking on the roots.

National symbols, spiritual icons and works of art: the trees are more than a tangle of roots, branches and leaves.

5 Avenue of Baobabs ( Madagascar )

Magagascar , the "Red Island", home to a unique fauna and flora, seeming outputs of unbridled imagination. Chameleons rolling their big eyes and sifakas (lemurs) to the red and gold dress dancing on the sand are everywhere incredible baobabs, nicknamed "upside down tree" because of their shape (polished trunk and roots in the air), or "bottle trees" because of their trunks filled with water. Of the eight existing species (also baobab grows in Africa and Australia), 6 are endemic to the "Big Island" of the Indian Ocean. Do not miss a walk among the giants in the driveway Baobab, east of Morondava (center-west).

To avoid the crowds and make beautiful pictures, arrive at dawn, when these large trees are plump color of fire.

Alley of baobabs, Madagascar. Helen Graham

6 Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka)

Often the sight of a beautiful tree makes thoughtful, like Siddhartha Gautama. It is meditating under a fig tree secular, on the site of present Bodhgaya, India, the Buddha was inspired and attained enlightenment. This Ficus religiosa has become sacred and is always worships cuttings planted in Anuradhapura to this "tree of enlightenment" Sri Lanka by Princess Sangamitta the third century BC. AD spiritual and geographical heart of the holy city of Anuradhapura, Sri Maha Bodhi (sacred Bodhi tree), one of eight holy places of Buddhism, is the centerpiece of an ancient and fascinating temple- palace.

Rent a bike (150-200 Rs / day) to explore the many temples, palaces and Dagoba Anuradhapura.

7 Cotton Tree, Freetown (Sierra Leone)

A tree can represent much more than a tree. As a symbol of a movement, a people or a country - all at once durable and fragile - it can express a wide range of feelings. This is the case of the tree Cotton, major historical site in the capital of Sierra Leone. In 1792, African-American slaves who had gained their freedom during the American Revolutionary War, fighting with the British, joined their new colony and got used to gather under the tree to give thanks to God. Today, after the civil war that tore the country, it is still a powerful symbol of hope.

Go see the tree Cotton just before dusk to witness the flight of thousands of bats that it hosts.

Kenny lynch

8 El Árbol del Tule, Santa María del Tule (Mexico)

With age, it is not easy to keep the line. That may explain the fact that this monumental tree, old 2000 years (3000 years according to some), almost wider than high: some 36 m in circumference 41 m high. Front of the church in a small town in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico , this Montezuma cypress more than 600 tons, called El Gigante receives many visits; it is now the largest tree in the world.

Buses Santa María del Tule from the city of Oaxaca, about 10 km west every 30 minutes.

El Árbol del Tule, Mexico. Ronald Woan

9 Oak major, Nottinghamshire ( England )

According to legend, Robin Hood roamed the area at the head of a merry band that détroussait the rich to the poor, provoking the ire of the king (perhaps bad King John). Sherwood Forest, it is still there (on a small area, however), with its major Oak. The hollow trunk of this 800-year old tree would have hidden off-the-law and his cronies. Whether the story is true or not, one can only admire its majestic branches drooping.

Oak is a few minutes from the home of Sherwood Forest area, near the village Edwinstowe 's.

Major Oak, England. Irenicrhonda

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Ahmed Khalidi

My name is Ahmed, I'm 23 and I'm passionate about travel. I try to travel regularly while continuing my study. I created this blog to share my travels, my tips and my travel tips. Feel free to comment on my articles or contact me if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer you. Follow and join us in Fb : fb.com/traver24trip in Google+ : +AhmedKhalidi1 .

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