Cocora

Voskonosnaya palm or Tseloksilon Andean - Colombia's national tree and the tallest palm tree in the world. This kind of trees grow in large groups exclusively in the high valley of Cocora. These trees are unique in nature and are the hallmark of Kolumbii.

Cocora Valley is located in the upper reaches of the river Quindío, at an altitude between 1800 and 2400 metrov.

Valley is also the so-called entrance to the National Park "Los Nevados," which is located on the territories of the four departments of Colombia (Tolima, Caldas, Quindio and Risaralda) and covers an area of ​​60 km2.

The valley is located at a high altitude, which is why it is almost always overcast. Tall palm trees, piercing the clouds are breathtaking, and even slightly unreal vid.

Voskonosnye palms grow up to 50 meters and live for about 120 let.

The leaves are dark green with a grayish tinge, trunk cylindrical, smooth, bright and covered voskom.

Before the invention of electricity, palm wax used in the manufacture of soaps and svechey.

The outer part of the trunk is used for construction of houses and systems vodosnabzheniya.

The fruit is the food for cattle and sviney.

For centuries, Christians have cut off the leaves from the trees to celebrate Palm Sunday. They used the leaves to make lush bouquets to celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Ierusalim.

Uncontrolled felling of trees by local residents led to the fact that the Colombian government was forced to take steps to preserve the remaining trees. Since 1985 decree, developed by the Catholic Church and the government of Colombia, prohibiting the cutting of trees under threat of penalty. And saved the trees still grow in the valley of Cocora, where they can see and touch.

Source: trasyy.livejournal.com/1252657.html