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THE BIRCH
The birch is one of the most common trees in Finnish forests. It has always held an important place in the life of Finnish people. It is Finland's national tree. In the past, the birch provided well for those who had the proper skills: in the spring, the birch sap made a healthy drink, and there was always birch bark for roofing, binding, producing baskets and dishes and other containers or even making birch-bark shoes; meanwhile the wood was used for buildings, furniture and especially for tools. The leafy twigs were made into sauna switches, but they could also be dried to make winter fodder for cattle. We can remember a Finnish fairy tale 'Koivu ja tahti' (The birch and the star), two lost children go looking for their home and finally find the right place because they recognize the birch in the yard. |
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The birch flowers in May before its leaves develop.
In the south of Finland the leaves turn yellow and fall off in October,
compared with September in the north. The birch has a white, straight
trunk. The birch begins to deteriorate gradually after about 100 years,
but in favourable conditions it can reach an age of up to 300 years.
The tallest birch tree in Finland is 32 metres high.
During the days of wood-burning stoves, it is important as firewood, and one-tenth of Finnish homes, not to mention most of the saunas at summer cottages, are still heated with birch logs. Birch sugar, known also as xylitol, is increasingly used in candy (in Finland at least) as it has been proven beneficial to the teeth, unlike other types of sugar. |
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A VERY OLD PINE It is the second thickest pine in Finland. We tried to measure the all-around width of the tree. It takes six children, with hand in hand, to make a circle around the tree. |
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It looks like it has two trunks
grown together. But actually it is one tree.
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A very big branch has fallen down for a very long time ago. It has been hit by a lightning.This area has an interesting historical background. Tools that date back to the Stone Age have been found from this area! |
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TERIJOEN SALAVA
We don't know what it is in English. It is a willow. It is some sort of cross-fertilized tree. It has been transplanted from across the border of Russia. Its origin (and name) derives from a little village called Terijoki in Russian Karelia. It has also another name 'Pallopaju' in Finnish. 'Pallo' means a ball and 'paju' a willow. If you look at the picture, you'll find out why it is 'Pallopaju'. |
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It is funny but when you go under the tree and watch up, you can clearly see the branches and even the smallest twigs. But when you look at it from a little longer distance, you can see only the thickest branches. It can reach very high above when growing. These trees are mainly seen in yards and parks. The leaves fall off in autumn. |
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Thank you to Ari Mikkonen and her
students for these beautiful photos and information.
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