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This maple tree was blown down by high winds last summer. Heavy storms come quickly here, and trees and plants living near the shore must be especially hardy to withstand the effects of wind, water and ice. The erosive actions of these forces cause the shore to be battered and worn like a seacoast.
The downed maple will continue living as long as part of its root structure can supply the tree with water and nutrients and as long as its leaves can embrace the rays of the sun. In years to come, the branches may eventually become trunks themselves, growing upward and thickening into individual trees with one massive base.