Just as the trees left out on the streets after domestic festivities are finished, the giant Rathaus tree will go to the same endpoint to be transformed into heat and electricity so that Vienna's residents may better endure the rest of the winter.
Using power saws and axes, the city administration department MA49 was able to break up the towering decoration into pieces within a matter of minutes. In previous years, the Christmas tree has been used as an “insect hotel” or made into sign posts for hiking routes.
Despite the stormy conditions, the 130-year old tree was brought down without a hitch. MA49 deputy director Herbert Weidinger stated, “it's important to have a forestry expert that can do it.
[He] needs a strong power saw for such dimensions, because a 27-meter tall tree typically has a diameter of about 70 centimeters.”
In order to secure the operation against the strong winds, Weidinger said a tractor and cable were used “to make 100 percent sure that it fell in the right direction.”
The ORF reports that the next Christmas tree to see the end of the season will be that in front of Schönbrunn palace. It will be felled next Tuesday and fed to the animals at the palace zoo.
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