The 'Kaņepju' great oak in Jērcēni parish, Valmiera municipality, has been named the European Tree of the Year in Latvia for 2023, Valmiera municipality said Tuesday.
The Kaņepju ('hemp') great oak near the Kaņepju house in Jērcēni parish is the second greatest oak in Latvia and the Baltic. It has been included in the list of protected nature monuments since 1977 and in the list of archaeology monuments since 1994.
The oak has once been struck by lightning, making a great hollow opening in the middle, with three entrances on the sides.
There is also a geocaching location in the hollow of the oak.
