Beautiful baobabs  Jun 26, 2020

Today we celebrate the island nation of Madagascar, located off the southeast coast of Africa, which became independent of France 60 years ago today, in 1960. Madagascar"s national tree is the stately baobab—impossibly tall and imposing, but a little silly at the same time. In fact, its nickname is the "upside-down tree," since it looks like it was planted with its roots in the air. Six of the world"s nine baobab species are native to Madagascar. The trees we"re looking at today are Grandidier"s baobabs, the largest of them all, lining the Avenue of the Baobabs near the western coast.

© Thomas Marent/Minden Pictures

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