Dąb Beczka, Natural monument in Puszcza Białowieska, Poland.
Dąb Beczka was an oak tree in Puszcza Białowieska, one of Europe's oldest forests, notable for its remarkably thick trunk. The tree developed an unusual shape, with the lower section considerably wider than the upper portion.
The tree was first scientifically documented in the late 1970s by Jacek Wysmułek and later protected as a natural monument. It lived approximately 450 years before dying in 1992.
The name comes from its barrel-like shape, which developed when fungus affected the lower section of the trunk. This distinctive form made it easy to spot among other trees in the forest.
The location sits deep in the forest, requiring good preparation and sturdy footwear for uneven terrain. Information about the monument and the forest can be gathered at the nearby Białowieska visitor center.
Despite its size, the oak was known more for its peculiar shape than for being the thickest tree in the region. The fungal infection that created this form made it a subject of scientific study for forest experts.
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