What is Birch bark?
[[Image:beresta.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Russian [[birch bark letter]] (14th century).]] '''Birch bark''' or '''birchbark''' is usually the [[bark]] of the [[paper birch]] tree or sometimes of similar trees such as [[gray Birch|gray (wire) birch]]. Birch bark is useful because it is strong and water-resistant. It is similar in some ways to [[cardboard]]. And can be easily cut, bent and sewn. Because of this it has been very valuable for building, crafting, and [[writing material]] ever since ancient times. Birch bark also contains substances that are used in medicines and chemicals. ==Uses== [[Image:Birch bark fishing net weights.jpg|thumb|250px|Finnish fishing net weights made out of birch bark and stones.]] [[File:Langetatud kase koorimine. Kõrvemaa, 2017. aprill..jpg|thumb|Birch bark peeling]] Birch bark was valuable throughout the world where birch trees were available: *In [[North America]], the [[native]] people used birch bark for [[canoe]]s and [[wigwam]]s and more. *In [[Scandinavia]] and [[Finland]], it had many uses, including [[roof]]s, boxes, [[cask]]s and [[bucket]]s. *In [[Russia]], many [[birch bark document]]s have survived from the [[Middle Ages]]. *In the [[India]]n civilisation birch-bark, along with [[palm leaf manuscript|dried palm leaves]], replaced [[parchment]] for writing. Birch bark is can also be used as a [[tinder]]. It is very good tinder as the inner layers will stay dry even through heavy rainstorms. To make birch bark useless as tinder, it must be soaked in water for a very long time. ==References== *[http://www.woodencanoe.net/shop/book/thealgonquin.html The Algonquin Birchbark Canoe by David Gidmark] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050213220655/http://www.woodencanoe.net/shop/book/thealgonquin.html |date=2005-02-13 }}. ==Other websites== {{commonscat}} *[http://www.wwmag.net/barktorc.htm The Birch Bark Torch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206004118/http://www.wwmag.net/barktorc.htm |date=2012-02-06 }}, a ''Wilderness Way Magazine'''