Cork oak forests in Gallura

In the north of Sardinia, large regions around Tempio Pausania in the mountainous hinterland of Gallura are still covered with cork oak forests. Cork production is still of considerable economic importance for the region. Only the lower part of the trunk is used; roughly every 8-10 years, the bark is peeled from the tree, after which the trunk glows rust-red, almost like blood. This procedure can be repeated up to 10 times before a tree becomes too old for it.

More pictures of Sardinia in the gallery of the same name