Oldest
Top 10 Oldest Trees In The World
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While countless trees have come and gone over the eons, a select few have managed to survive for millennia, becoming the oldest living organisms on Earth. Some of the trees on this list have long died due to being cut down or by Mother Nature's wrath.
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Here we would like to share with you the top 10 oldest trees in the world and their interesting backgrounds. One species definitely stands out as the oldest living tree in the world.
10. CBR26 (~3,266 Years Old)
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| Credit: Wikimedia Commons |
In the Sierra Nevada region of North America, a colossal redwood known as CBR26 was discovered in the 1990s. This magnificent tree is estimated to have lived for an astounding 3,266 years.
Often referred to as the Sierra sequoia, it belongs to the cypress family (Cupressaceae) and is a coniferous evergreen, ranking as both the largest individual tree on Earth and the largest in terms of volume.
Tragically, a devastating California wildfire, which occurred last year, wreaked havoc in the southern Sierra Nevada, resulting in the destruction of numerous Giant Sequoia trees, including the venerable CBR26. These findings stem from a preliminary report compiled by scientists affiliated with the National Park Service.
9. The Senator (~3,500 Years Old)
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"The Senator" was one of the most famous and revered trees in the United States before its tragic demise. This ancient and majestic tree was a giant bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) located in Longwood, Florida, within Big Tree Park.
It was named "The Senator" in honor of Florida Senator M.O. Overstreet, who donated the land for the park in the 1920s. The Senator was estimated to be around 3,500 years old, making it one of the oldest and largest trees in the world.
This colossal tree soared to a height of approximately 125 feet (38 meters) and had a massive girth of about 17.5 feet (5.3 meters). Tragically, on January 16, 2012, The Senator was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin.
8. Sarv-e Abarkuh (~4,500 Years Old)
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Sarv-e Abarqu, also known as the "Cypress of Abarqu," is a remarkable tree located in Yazd Province, Iran. The tree is estimated to be around 4,500 years old which makes it the oldest living tree in Iran.
Its massive trunk rises gracefully, adorned with branches and foliage that provide shade and beauty. The cypress tree holds deep cultural and historical significance in Iran. It is often associated with longevity, strength, and resistance.
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It holds the status of a National Natural Monument, a designation bestowed upon it by the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran, and as a result, it attracts numerous tourists.
7. Llangernyw Yew (~4,500 Years Old)
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The Llangernyw Yew, scientifically known as Taxus baccata, is an ancient tree located in the Conwy Valley of Wales, United Kingdom. While it is challenging to precisely determine its exact age, estimates suggest it could be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old.
It features a thick, gnarled trunk and a dense, dark-green canopy of needle-like leaves. In 2002, it received recognition as one of the 50 Great British Trees. The tree, steeped in Welsh mythology, holds a special place in local lore.
Legend has it that on every Halloween, this venerable tree, referred to as the Angelystor or the "Recording Angel," supposedly utters the names of all those destined to pass away before the arrival of the next Halloween.
6. Methuselah (4,855 Years Old)
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Methuselah, a Great Basin bristlecone pine stands as a living testament to the incredible resilience and longevity of trees. Located within the ancient groves of the White Mountains in eastern California, USA, Methuselah is one of the oldest known living trees on Earth.
Methuselah's exact age is a closely guarded secret to protect it from potential harm, but it is estimated to be over 4,800 years old. Methuselah is nestled within the ancient groves of the White Mountains, specifically in the Inyo National Forest. Its exact location is a well-kept secret, known only to a select few, to ensure the tree's protection from potential harm.
5. Prometheus (~4,900 Years Old)
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Prometheus was a Great Basin bristlecone pine tree, scientifically known as Pinus longaeva, located in the Wheeler Peak grove within the Great Basin National Park in Nevada, USA.
Prometheus held the title of the oldest known non-clonal tree on Earth, dating back an estimated 4,900 years. Sadly, Prometheus met an untimely end in 1964. It was cut down by a team of researchers led by a graduate student named Donald Rusk Currey, who sought to study its rings to understand its age.
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This act, which was intended for scientific purposes, sparked outrage and controversy, as the tree's demise was seen as a tragic loss of an irreplaceable natural treasure.
4. Alerce Milenario (~5,000 Years Old)
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The Alerce Milenario, also known as the Millenary Alerce or Fitzroya cupressoides, is a truly remarkable tree species native to the Andes Mountains of South America, particularly found in Chile and Argentina.
By employing both computer modeling and conventional techniques to assess tree age, Jonathan Barichivich, a Chilean environmental scientist affiliated with the Climate and Environmental Sciences Laboratory in Paris, has approximated that the Alerce Milenario likely exceeds 5,000 years in age.
These ancient Alerce trees are characterized by their massive size, with some reaching heights of over 50 meters (164 feet) and diameters of more than 4 meters (13 feet).
3. Jōmon Sugi (~5,000 Years Old)
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The Jōmon Sugi is a remarkable natural wonder located on Yakushima Island, Japan. This ancient cedar tree, scientifically known as Cryptomeria japonica, is one of the most famous and revered trees in Japan, renowned for its extraordinary age and cultural significance.
The Jōmon Sugi is estimated to be between 2,170 and 7,200 years old, depending on various assessments and methods used for dating. Regardless of the exact age, it unquestionably ranks among the oldest living trees on Earth.
Its name, "Jōmon Sugi," is derived from the Jōmon period (approximately 14,000 to 300 BCE), making it a living relic from a distant prehistoric era. This massive cedar tree rises to a height of approximately 25 meters (82 feet) with a girth of around 16 meters (52 feet).
It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage in the southern part of Japan
2. Pinus Longaeva - Unnamed (5,065+ Years Old)
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Pinus longaeva, commonly known as the Great Basin bristlecone pine, is a remarkable and ancient tree species that has captured the imagination of scientists, conservationists, and nature enthusiasts alike.
It is known to be one of the oldest trees in the world that has survived well over 5,000 years. Great Basin bristlecone pines are predominantly found in the high-altitude mountain ranges of the western United States, particularly in states such as California, Nevada, and Utah.
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These trees are characterized by their distinctive twisted and gnarled trunks, which give them a surreal and ancient appearance. The bark of older trees often peels away in thin strips, revealing the characteristic reddish or purple wood beneath.
1. Old Tjikko (~9,550 Years Old)
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Old Tjikko is a Norway spruce (Picea abies) located in Fulufjället Mountain in Sweden. It is considered the oldest individual tree on Earth, with an estimated age of approximately 9,558 years.
Old Tjikko was discovered in 2004 by a group of scientists led by Professor Leif Kullman from Umeå University. Its age was determined through carbon dating of its root system. The tree was named after Kullman's Siberian husky, Tjikko.
Old Tjikko is well protected within the Fulufjället National Park in Dalarna County, Sweden.
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Also read: Top 7 Oldest Forest In The World
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