| |
Destination:Getting on
board
|
|
| |
Friendly
giants
From Canada to Australia,
trees define landscape and convey a sense of place
|
|
BOAB TREE in Derby, Australia, was once
used as a temporary prison.
| They produce fruit, trap
air pollution and offer respite from the blistering sun. But
best of all, trees beautify our surroundings.
For
travellers, they also help convey a sense of place. Colourful
fall foliage of deciduous trees represents cooler climes,
while palm trees help define tropical landscapes.
Occasionally, one tree alone may be so extraordinary
that it stands out from the rest. It may be notable for being
unusually large, rare or historic. In some cases a tree
becomes a tourist attraction, worthy of a special visit.
Though hardly a definitive list, the following is a
sample of a few notable trees from around the globe:
Maui's Famous Banyan Tree
One of
the world's biggest Indian Banyan trees has become a prominent
landmark in the historic port town of Lahaina, on the Hawaiian
island of Maui.
The tree, which was planted in April
1873 by the town sheriff to mark the 50th anniversary of
missionaries in Lahaina, covers a huge area and is often the
hub of social activity.
In December an art show
representing works from more than three-dozen local artists
was staged beneath its shady and sprawling canopy. The tree,
named after Hindu traders called Banyans, has aerial roots
that grow earthward from horizontal branches.
Jelutung Tree, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
At 421 metres in height, the KL Tower is the tallest
tower of its kind in Asia and the third tallest in the world.
So it's not surprising the 95-year-old Jelutung tree
that sits close to the entrance of this superstructure is
sometimes overlooked.
It's a rare tree, precious
enough that great efforts were made to preserve this
particular specimen. According to a nearby sign: " ... the
position of the tower was shifted to avoid the tree and a
series of soldier piles was installed as a retaining wall
during the foundation excavation period to prevent the tree
from toppling."
It was an expensive process that cost
430,000 ringgit (about $158,000 Cdn.). Exploited for years as
a source of latex and timber, the Jelutung is now considered a
threatened species on Peninsular Malaysia.
The
Comfort Maple, Canada
What stands 30 metres
high, has a crown width of 38 metres and a girth of eight
metres? Are you "stumped?" It's Canada's biggest Maple tree,
located in Welland.
No one seems sure of the tree's
age, though it's been there since at least 1816. At that time
the area had a thick forest cover that included oak, hemlock,
maple and beech trees, most of which have since been cut down
or lost to fire or old age.
Recognizing its value,
owner Earl Hampton Comfort set aside a piece of land for the
tree's preservation. In 1961 his sister Edna donated the tree
and a parcel of land around it to the Niagara Region
Conservation Authority.
The tree is east of Regional
Road 28, about 2 km north of Hwy. 20 near Welland. The Comfort
Maple is among the attractions in the book 50 Even More
Unusual Things To See In Ontario (Stoddart), by Ron Brown.
Manchineel Tree in Barbados
If
you ever stay at the lovely Almond Beach Club in Barbados,
don't miss the "Tropical Ramble," a free tour of the
property's local flora. The informative romp covers several
dozen exotic plants, shrubs, palms, foliage plants and trees
-- including the potentially harmful Manchineel.
The
towering tree with a wide spreading crown is located near the
hotel's beach. A sign affixed to its trunk reads: "Do not eat
the fruit from this tree."
According to our guide, the
green roundish fruits, some of which had fallen to the ground,
are extremely poisonous. Even standing beneath the tree in the
rain can result in severe skin blistering. Apparently, some
tourists learn the hard way that touching the leaves can be
painful as well.
The tree did come in handy for the
Carib Indians though, who used the Manchineel's poison on the
tip of their hunting arrows. The tree is a native of the
coasts of Central America and the Caribbean.
Australia's Prison Tree
Boabs
are among the oldest trees in the world. But few can match the
history of a 1,000-year-old Boab near the town of Derby in
Western Australia.
With a giant girth of 14 metres,
the hollow trunk of this tree was once used as a temporary
lock-up and held as many as a dozen prisoners at a time
It's the town's most famous attraction but few people
ever see it.
Derby is located in the rugged and remote
Kimberley area in northwestern Australia, a region known for
its spectacular gorges. The Derby Boab is considered sacred to
local Aborigines and visitors are asked not to venture beyond
a protective fence.
If planning a trip to the region, try to time your arrival
for the first two weeks of July during the annual Boab Festival.
|
www.summer
holiday.info
www.winter holiday.org.uk |
