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By Peter Clarke
Fly the flag for the Norfolk pine. Found everywhere, from the pot on your neighbor’s windowsill to the inland desert of Tunisia’s Jerba Island, the Norfolk pine originated here and is the island’s emblem.
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From the vantage of a Norfolk pine, three scan the horizon for a ship.
Photograph by David Hiser |
In its native habitat the pine grows up to 200 feet (61 meters) tall, with a girth described by Captain Cook (who discovered the uninhabited island in 1774) as “more than can be encircled by six men with arms outstretched.” In fact, the pine was a prime reason for the island’s colonization.
Cook mistakenly believed the timber, which is particularly tolerant to salt, could provide masts for King George III’s fighting ships. Now it can be found on the world’s foreshores, a tribute to its hardiness and majesty.
Read “A Mutineer's Paradise” in the September 1999 issue of TRAVELER.
Norfolk Island
http://www.ozbird.com/OZ/Walkabout/norfolk.htm
Experience the flora and fauna of Norfolk through this excellent eco-site, featuring fascinating facts on the Norfolk Island pine.
Norfolk Island
http://www.nf/
Excellent cartoon graphics make this site inviting to family visitors. Look here for the complete Norfolk Island telephone book—featuring names like Boof, Carrots, Deisel, and Tarzan—and a photographic tour of the island.
Norfolk Island: The Web Site
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~jbp/pds/
This politically charged site offers fascinating facts about the history of Norfolk Islanders—and examples of their fierce pride.
Norfolk Island Travel Channel
http://www.norfolkisland.nf/
The site provides tour information, food and lodging options, and a comprehensive shopping guide.
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