OLDEST TREES IN THE WORLD

METHUSELAH

At 4,841 years old, this ancient bristlecone pine is the oldest known

non-clonal organism on Earth. Located in the White Mountains of

California, in Inyo National Forest, Methuselah's exact location is kept

a close secret in order to protect it from the public. (An older specimen

named Prometheus, which was about 4,900 years old, was cut down

by a researcher in 1964 with the U.S. Forest Service's permission.)

Today you can visit the grove where Methuselah hides,

but you'll have to guess at which tree it is.

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.

LLANGERNYW YEW

This incredible yew resides in a small churchyard of St. Dygain's

Church in Llangernyw village, north Wales. 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.

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 in the 19th and 20th 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 3,640 years old.

THE SENATOR

The Senator, located in Florida, was the largest bald cypress tree in

the United States, and was widely considered the oldest of its species

known to exist. It was likely the largest U.S. tree of any species east of

the Mississippi River. Estimated to be 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 had endured

many hurricanes, including one in 1925 which reduced its height by 40 feet. 

The tree gets its name from Sen. M.O. Overstreet, who donated

the tree and surrounding land in 1927. 

Unfortunately  'The Senator' was burned to the ground.

PATRIARCA DA FLORESTA

This tree, an example of the species Cariniana legalis named

Patriarca da Floresta in Brazil, is estimated to be about 3,000 years old,

making it the oldest non-conifer in Brazil. The tree is believed to be sacred,

but its species is widely threatened due to forest clearing in Brazil,

Colombia and Venezuela.

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 are drought-, disease- and fire-resistant. 

Part of the reason for their longevity and their widespread use in the region.

JÔMON SUGI

Jômon 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

5,000 years old. Under that theory, it's possible that Jômon Sugi is the

oldest tree in the world — even older than Methuselah. Regardless of the

numbers, it's a tree that deserves mention. 

CHESTNUT TREE OF ONE HUNDRED HORSES

This tree, located on Mount Etna in Sicily, 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. It is listed in the Guinness World Record

as having the "greatest tree girth ever," at 190 feet in circumference.

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 its

largest branch broke off in 2006, smashing part of its enclosing fence and

cratering the pavement of the surrounding walkway. 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.