CURIOSITIES

One of the oldest cork oak trees in the world is over 500 years old
Montargil, in the municipality of Ponte de Sor, is home to one of the oldest cork oak trees in the world. It was never harvested and is surrounded by barbed wire to protect it, and to prevent cattle from lying under its shade, as this could erode the soil, and expose its roots.

Portugal boasts the world’s largest and most productive cork oak tree
The world’s largest and most productive cork oak tree hails from Águas de Moura, in the municipality of Palmela. Known as the Whistler tree for its canopy songbirds, it is 243 years old and has been harvested over twenty times since 1783. The Whistler tree has been listed as a “Tree of Public interest” since 1988.

The world’s largest cork mosaic is made of 400 thousand stoppers
As certified by the Guinness World Records, the world’s largest cork mosaic is made of some 400 thousand stoppers displaying Portuguese icons and Ponte de Sor landmarks. You can see the panel in Ponte de Sor, at the Centro de Artes e Cultura.

Did you know that cork is used in Hollywood effects for specials?
Cork is widely used in Hollywood, especially in scenes with special effects where it is necessary to simulate explosions and debris. Thanks to its lightness, it is possible to build props in cork that do not damage the make-up of the actors at the moment of a scene exploding. Batman, Mission Impossible, Gangster Squad and Ghostbusters are some of the films where different forms of cork are used for similar explosions.

Did you know that cork is used in music?
Cork is an impermeable raw material that offers good sealing conditions. It is, therefore, used in studio walls and even in percussion instruments, such as drums, and wind instruments, such as saxophones, clarinets, transverse flutes, bassoons, tubas, trumpets and oboes, as it offers a good tuning of the sound.

Did you know that cork is capable of producing energy?
Cork, more specifically, cork powder, is used in the cogeneration of electric energy, thus contributing to the improvement of the energy efficiency of companies that use this raw material.

Did you know that cork is used in several industries?
Cork is a good sound and vibration insulator used in machines such as compressors, elevators, hydraulic presses, looms, turbines, lathes, generators and motors. Its use neutralizes heat and humidity and allows complete waterproofing and is therefore also used in refrigeration installations.