Anyone with the slightest appreciation of nature has felt the quiet majesty of a stately tree or the collective hum of a dense forest. Trees give us oxygen, food, shade, shelter, not to mention fun boughs to climb. All trees are essentially wonderful, yet some are particularly noteworthy for being stunningly beautiful, kind of quirky, enormous, old or artistically manipulated. Here are 11 of the most remarkable trees on the planet. Which is your favorite?
1. Baobab Trees
There are nine species of baobab found in Australia, Madagascar and parts of Africa. Some of these trees store significant amounts of water in their bulbous trunks, which is why animals make their home in the nooks, crannies and hollows. Humans are also drawn to them for shelter and ceremonies. One hollow baobab in Western Australia was once used as a prison cell, and another in South Africa is a popular pub today. Some of the most remarkable trees live to a ripe old age more than 1000 years strong.
