15 candidates from almost all over Europe, young and old participants, each with their own story, in the end will be chosen. What sounds like a casting show with a vote, is actually the call for a rather unusual choice: An international environmental association looks for "Europe's Tree of the Year".

Pretty foliage or curiously grown treetops alone should not be enough for a victory. According to the organizers, the "tree with the most exciting history" is searched. Of the 15 nominees, these are mostly connections to cultural or historical events.

Currently, the "Abramtsevo oak" from Russia leads the poll with more than 30,000 votes. The tree, at least 248 years old, is on the edge of Moscow near a museum. Not only the writer Nikolai Gogol is said to have moved below him, the tree is also depicted on a painting from 1883.

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European Tree of the Year: The most beautiful tree in Europe

By contrast, there is not a single candidate from German-speaking countries. The reason is apparently that in these countries no organizations have been found that have identified a "tree of the year" at the national level. As a result, no trees were able to enter European competition from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The vote under the leadership of the Environmental Partnership Association (EPA) is now taking place for the ninth time. According to EPA, around 200,000 people took part in the election last year. The association consists of six environmental protection organizations from Eastern Europe.

It is in the hands of the voters, who will be able to select their two favorites on this website until February 28th.