These ancient trees have borne witness to the rise and fall of civilizations, survived changing climates, and even persevered through the fervent development of human industry. They are a testament to the long view that Mother Nature takes in tending the Earth. With that in mind, consider these 10 Of The World's Oldest Living Trees.
1- Methuselah
Until 2013,
Methuselah, an ancient bristlecone pine was the oldest known non-clonal
organism on Earth. Methuselah was 4,789 years old when examined in 1957,
with an estimated seeding date of 2833 BC. That makes Methuselah—commonly
referred to as the oldest tree in the world—4,855 years old in 2023. But nearby
in Methuselah's White Mountains of California, in Inyo National Forest, another
bristlecone pine was discovered that is thought to be even older. Methuselah
and its unnamed senior pine's exact locations are kept a close secret in order
to protect them. Methuselah is still alive and you can visit the grove where it
hides, but you'll have to guess which tree it is. Could the one pictured above
be it?
2- Sarv-e Abarqu
Sarv-e Abarqu,
also called the "Zoroastrian Sarv," is a cypress tree in Yazd
province, Iran. The tree is estimated to be at least 4,000 years old and,
having lived through the dawn of human civilization not far away, it is
considered an Iranian national monument. Many have noted that Sarv-e Abarqu is
most likely the oldest living thing in Asia.
3- Llangernyw Yew
This
incredible yew resides in a small churchyard of St. Dygain's Church in
Llangernyw village, North Wales, United Kingdom. About 4,000 years old,
the Llangernyw Yew was planted sometime in the prehistoric Bronze Age—and it's
still growing! In 2002, in celebration of the golden jubilee of Queen Elizabeth
II, the tree was designated as one of 50 Great British trees by the
Tree Council. The tree is also rooted in Welsh mythology, as it is linked
to a spirit called Angelystor, or the “Recording Angel.”
4- Alerce
The Alerce is
a common name for Fitzroya cupressoides, a towering tree species native to the
Andes mountains. There's almost no telling how old these trees can get, since
most of the larger specimens were heavily logged over centuries. Many
botanists believe they are the second-longest living trees on Earth aside from
the bristlecone pine of North America. To date, the oldest known living
specimen is at least 3,00 years old—and possibly, but not confirmed, even older than Methuselah—and is appropriately called
Grand Abuelo.
5- Patriarca da Floresta
This tree, an
example of the species Cariniana
legalis named Patriarca da Floresta in Brazil, is estimated to
be over 2,000 years old. The tree is believed to be sacred, but its species
is widely threatened due to forest clearing in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
6- The Senator
Though the
Senator suffered tragedy in 2012 after a fire caused much of the tree to
collapse, this iconic tree bears mentioning here. Formerly located in Florida,
the Senator was the largest bald cypress tree in the U.S. and was widely
considered the oldest of its species known to exist. It was also likely
the largest U.S. tree of any species east of the Mississippi River. Estimated
to have been around 3,500 years old, the Senator was used as a landmark for the
Seminole Indians and other native tribes. The Senator's size was
particularly impressive because it endured many hurricanes, including one in
1925 which reduced its height by 40 feet.
The tree got
its name from Sen. M.O. Overstreet, who donated the tree and surrounding land
in 1927.
7- Olive Tree of Vouves
This ancient
olive tree is located on the Greek island of Crete and is one of seven olive
trees in the Mediterranean believed to be at least 2,000 to 3,000 years old.
Although its exact age cannot be verified, the Olive Tree of Vouves might be
the oldest among them, estimated at over 3,000 years old. It still produces
olives, and they are highly prized. Olive trees are hardy and drought-,
disease- and fire-resistant—part of the reason for their longevity and their
widespread use in the region.
8- Jōmon Sugi
Jōmon Sugi,
located in Yakushima, Japan, is the oldest and largest cryptomeria tree on the
island and is one of many reasons why the island was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tree
dates to at least 2,000 years old, but some experts believe it could be older
than 3,000 years old. Under that theory, it's possible that Jōmon Sugi is the
oldest tree in the world—even older than Methuselah and its brethren.
Regardless of the numbers, it's a tree that deserves mention here.
9- Chestnut Tree of One
Hundred Horses
This tree,
located on Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy is the largest and oldest known chestnut
tree in the world. Believed to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old, this
tree's age is particularly impressive because Mount Etna is one of the most
active volcanoes in the world. The tree sits only 5 miles from Etna's
crater. The tree's name originated from a legend in which a company of 100
knights were caught in a severe thunderstorm. According to the legend, all
of them were able to take shelter under the massive tree.
10-
General Sherman
Believed to be
around 2,500 years old, General Sherman is the mightiest giant sequoia still
standing. The volume of its trunk alone makes it the largest non-clonal
tree by volume in the world, even though the tree's largest branch broke
off in 2006. Perhaps this was a sign that General Sherman could not be
caged in? Sherman can be found in Sequoia National Park in California, where
five of the 10 largest trees in the world exist.
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