Trees are among the most amazing living beings on Earth. They provide us with many benefits, such as oxygen, shade, food, and beauty. But they also have a remarkable ability to live for a very long time. Some trees can survive for hundreds or even thousands of years, making them the oldest living organisms on the planet. How do they do it? What secrets do they hold? And which ones are the oldest of them all?
In this video, we will explore these questions and more. We will take you on a journey around the world to discover some of the oldest trees that have ever existed. We will learn about their history, their characteristics, and their challenges. Additionally will also rank them according to their age, based on scientific evidence and reliable sources.
You might be surprised by some of the trees that will get a shout-out. Some of them are not very tall or impressive-looking. Some of them are not even individual trees, but clonal colonies that share a common root system. Some of them have names that you might recognize from mythology or religion. And some of them are so old that they were alive when humans were still hunter-gatherers.
Viewcation Presents: The Oldest Trees in the World
The Senator
The Senator was a bald cypress tree that was located in Big Tree Park, Longwood, Florida. It was one of the oldest and largest trees in the world, with an estimated age of 3500 years and a height of 125 feet. It was named after Senator Moses Overstreet, who donated the land for the park in 1927. The tree was a popular tourist attraction and a historical landmark. Unfortunately, The Senator was tragically destroyed by a fire in 2012, caused by a woman who was smoking methamphetamine inside the hollow trunk. Naturally, she was promptly arrested and sentenced to 30 months in prison for her crime.
Patriarca da Floresta
Patriarca da Floresta is a remarkable tree that grows in Brazil. It belongs to the species Cariniana legalis, also known as jequitibá-rosa or jequitibá-branco.
Patriarca da Floresta grows very tall and wide. It can reach a height of 40 meters and a trunk diameter of 11 meters. It can live for more than 3,000 years. The oldest known living specimen is located in Vassununga State Park, in Santa Rita do Passa Quatro. It is estimated to be 3,020 years old.
Patriarca da Floresta has large, oval leaves that are intense dark green on top and subtle light green on the bottom. It has small flowers that are white or pink and have a strong fragrance. It has large fruits that are brown and woody and contain many seeds. It prefers moist and fertile soils and grows well in tropical rainforests.
BLK227
BLK227 is a bald cypress tree that grows next to the Black River in North Carolina. It is the oldest known bald cypress in the world and one of the oldest living trees on Earth. It is estimated to be between 2000 to 3000 years old, which means it was alive when Nebuchadnezzar II ruled Babylon and Alexander the Great conquered Persia. This ancient tree has witnessed centuries of human history and natural changes, and it still stands tall and green today. It is a remarkable example of longevity and resilience in nature.
Scofield Juniper
The Scofield Juniper was a Sierra juniper tree that grew near Sonora Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. It was the longest-lived of all known and accurately-dated juniper trees, with an estimated age of 2,675 years when it died. It started its life around 1520 BC, before the rise of ancient Greece and Rome. It survived harsh conditions and climate changes for millennia, until it was cut down by a logger in 1978. A cross-section of its trunk reveals its fascinating life story, showing how it grew with nearly-complete bark coverage for about 100 years, then lost most of its bark due to fire or drought, and then recovered some of its bark in later centuries.
Olive Tree of Vouves
The Olive Tree of Vouves is an ancient olive tree in the rural village of Ano Vouves in Crete, Greece. It is one of the oldest olive trees in the world, and it still produces edible olives today. The exact age of the tree cannot be precisely determined, but some estimates range from 3500 to 5000 years old. The tree has a trunk circumference of 12 meters and a height of 3 meters. It is a natural monument and a tourist attraction, with a museum dedicated to its history and culture nearby. The tree has also been used as a symbol of peace and the Olympic spirit.
CMC 3
CMC 3 was a giant sequoia tree that grew on the western side of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. It was one of the oldest living trees on Earth, with an estimated age of 3,266 years when it died. It was part of a group of four ancient sequoias that were cut down in 1891 for scientific research. It was a magnificent and towering tree that belonged to one of the largest and longest-lived species in the world.
Sarv-e Abarqu
Sarv-e Abarkuh is a majestic cypress tree that has witnessed the rise and fall of many civilizations in Iran. It is believed to be at least 4,000 years old, making it one of the oldest living things in Asia and possibly the world. It stands tall and proud in the city of Abarkuh in Yazd province, where it is revered as a national monument and a symbol of Zoroastrianism. The tree has a height of about 25 meters and a circumference of about 18 meters at its base. It has survived harsh weather conditions, natural disasters, wars, and human interference for millennia. It is a living testament to the resilience and beauty of nature.
Sarv-e Abarkuh is not only a remarkable tree but also a cultural treasure. It has inspired many legends, poems, and stories among the local people. Some say that it was planted by Zoroaster himself, the founder of Zoroastrianism. Others claim that it was a gift from Noah after the great flood. Some even believe that it holds mystical powers and can grant wishes to those who respect it. Whatever the truth may be, Sarv-e Abarkuh is undoubtedly a wonder of nature that deserves our admiration and protection.
Alerce Milenario
Alerce Milenario is a colossal tree that grows in a remote ravine in Chile’s Alerce Costero National Park. It belongs to the species Fitzroya cupressoides, also known as Alerce or Patagonian cypress. It is estimated to be more than 5,000 years old, making it a strong contender for the oldest tree in the world. It has a height of about 60 meters and a trunk diameter of about 4.26 meters. It has survived countless natural disasters, human exploitation and climate change for millennia. It is a living witness to the history of humanity and the planet.
Alerce Milenario is not only an ancient tree but also a rare one. It belongs to one of the longest-lived and slowest-growing tree species on Earth. Its wood is highly valued for its durability and resistance to decay. However, this also made it a target for logging and deforestation since colonial times. The species was declared endangered in 1976 and protected by law in 1990. Today, only about 15% of its original forest cover remains. Alerce Milenario is one of the few survivors of its kind.
Alerce Milenario is not only an endangered tree but also a sacred one. It is revered by the indigenous Mapuche people as a symbol of their culture and spirituality. They call it Lawal, meaning “grandfather” or “ancestor” in their language. They believe that it holds ancestral wisdom and connects them with their roots and traditions.
Methuselah
Methuselah is a remarkable tree that has lived for almost five millennia in the White Mountains of eastern California. It belongs to the species Pinus longaeva, also known as Great Basin bristlecone pine. It is estimated to be 4,854 years old, making it the oldest non-clonal tree in the world. It has a height of about 15 meters and a trunk diameter of about 3.5 meters. It has survived harsh weather conditions, wildfires, insects, and diseases for centuries. It is a living record of the environmental changes that have occurred on Earth.
Methuselah is not only an ancient tree but also a secret one. Its exact location is kept hidden from the public to protect it from vandalism and damage. It grows in the Methuselah Grove, which is part of Inyo National Forest’s “Forest of Ancients”. There, it is surrounded by other old and majestic trees that form a unique ecosystem. The grove is open to visitors who can hike along a 4.5-mile trail that offers stunning views of the landscape. However, Methuselah itself remains anonymous among its peers.
Methuselah is not only a secret tree but also a symbolic one. It is named after Methuselah, a biblical figure who lived for 969 years and was the grandfather of Noah. It represents longevity, resilience, and wisdom in many cultures and religions. It also inspires awe and curiosity among scientists and enthusiasts who study its growth rings and genetic makeup.
Methuselah is more than just a tree; it is a living legend that fascinates us with its age, splendor, and mystery.
Prometheus
Prometheus was a remarkable tree that once lived for nearly five millennia on Wheeler Peak in eastern Nevada. It belonged to the species Pinus longaeva, also known as Great Basin bristlecone pine. It was estimated to be at least 4,862 years old and possibly more than 5,000 years old, making it the oldest non-clonal tree ever recorded. It had a height of about 11 meters and a trunk diameter of about 1.5 meters. It had witnessed countless historical events and climatic changes for centuries. It was a living archive of the past.
Prometheus was not only an ancient tree but also a tragic one. It was cut down in 1964 by a graduate student and a United States Forest Service personnel who were unaware of its age and significance. They wanted to study its growth rings to reconstruct the climate history of the region. They had obtained permission from the Forest Service to take samples from living trees, but they encountered difficulties with their coring tools and decided to cut down Prometheus instead. They later realized their mistake when they counted its rings and found out that it was older than any other known tree.
Prometheus was not only a tragic tree but also a symbolic one. It was named after Prometheus, a Greek mythological figure who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, but was punished by being chained to a rock where an eagle ate his liver every day. It represented endurance, sacrifice, and curiosity in many cultures and religions. It also sparked controversy and debate among scientists and conservationists who questioned the ethics and value of cutting down ancient trees for research purposes.
Well, that about does it. Which of the living trees we just discussed would you like to visit in person, and were you surprised to learn that some of the world’s oldest trees were cut down down in the last century? Let us know in the comments.