Baobab trees are some of the most amazing trees on Earth because their trunks look like big, fat bottles! They live in hot, dry places in Africa and can grow as wide as a school bus is long. Their big, round trunks can store a huge amount of water inside, up to 120,000 liters, which helps them survive when it does not rain for a long time. For most of the year, baobab trees do not even have leaves, which makes them look really funny and bare.
Some people call the baobab the “upside-down tree” because its bare branches look just like roots sticking up into the air! These incredible trees can live for thousands of years, and some are even older than the ancient pyramids. The baobab’s fruit is called “monkey bread,” and it is safe to eat and full of healthy vitamins. As baobab trees get really old, their trunks sometimes become hollow inside, and these spaces can be home to all sorts of animals. People have used baobab trees in many ways, from making rope and cloth out of the bark to cooking with the leaves!