New Finland Monument

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New Finland Monument in August 2020

New Finland Monument is an apple tree (Malus domestica) that was of special significance in the erstwhile Principality of New Eiffel. Grade 2-listed by the New Eiffel Registry Ministry, it was the national monument of both New Eiffel's predecessors, the Republic and later Kingdom of New Finland. The tree, the tallest in the micronation and surrounded by a flowerbed, formed the border between the cities of Plitvice and the capital Új Repülő.

Tree

New Finland Monument is an apple tree (Malus domestica) of the family rosaceae that was located in west New Eiffel, forming the border between the cities of Plitvice and the capital Új Repülő. The tree is of the Malus domestica 'Granny Smith' variety, producing the apple cultivar Granny Smith. It is surrounded by a flowerbed, and to its north is a second, smaller apple tree of the same species. The Royal Archives—based on measurements of its trunk and monitoring its health—estimates the tree to have been planted between 1970 and 1980, making it between 43–44 and 53–54 years old. As New Finland Monument is an elderly tree, the rate at which it produces healthy apples is irregular. Leaning slightly to the right (south), the tree is easy to climb as a recreational pastime. It was the tallest tree in New Eiffel, and one of few living trees in the principality. Additionally, the tree is fitted with LED lights that no longer work.

Significance

As the tallest and most prominent tree in the micronation—being located in the centre of a flowerbed—it was highly regarded upon the establishment of the Republic of New Finland's claimant to the territory on 4 January 2018. Zabëlle Skye, then-President, soon proclaimed it the national monument of the nation. It remained the national monument after the Kingdom of New Finland was established on 4 June. The tree de jure lost its status after the Kingdom was succeeded by the Principality of New Eiffel on 11 August and its laws and statues nulled. That same month, the tree was listed as a Grade 2-listed entity by the New Eiffel Registry Ministry for its "historical significance," under the name New Finland Monument. It continued to be admired by citizens and was used in campaigns by the government in the hopes of encouraging citizens to protect the environment. New Eiffel dissolved on 1 November 2020, and its former territory including New Finland Monument was briefly succeeded to the Grand Duchy of Australis as the state of New Eiffel between 12 January and 9 September 2021. As of 2023, the tree still exists.

See also