Terror Crane - Belgium

Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the former West Germany, were the founding members of the European Union. The city of Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union; it also serves as the center for the Benelux secretariat and the headquarters for the NATO alliance.

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Gastornis giganteus - After the disappearance of the dinosaurs, the largest meat eaters in parts of Europe and North America were flightless birds known as “terror cranes.” Some of these cranes stood 2.1 meters tall and had massive jaws able to crush the small and medium-sized mammals of the day. Further examination of fossilized remains suggests these birds may not have been carnivores. The legs lacked the ability to pursue fast prey and the beak structure is more suitable to a herbivore. The terror crane debate is unresolved.

Brussels Sprouts - Belgium

Brassica oleracea - Brussels sprouts are members of the cabbage family and may have originated in Belgium. The vegetable has been cultivated for human consumption since Roman times. The sprouts, or buds as they are known, resemble miniature cabbages and form on stalks ranging in length from 60 to 120 centimeters. The buds are usually 2.5 to 4 centimeters in diameter. Brussels sprouts are tolerant of low temperatures and grow ideally in climates of 15 to 18 degrees. 

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Belgium is a bridge connecting Germanic and Latin Europe through its cultural and language differences. The two distinct regions of Belgium are a reflection of those differences. Flanders, located in the north, is Germanic, while Walloon, located in the south, is Latin. Each region has its own language; Flemish speaking Flanders and French speaking Walloon. There is a small area along the German border with a large German speaking population; it had been a former territory of Germany.