Where do the world’s oldest trees grow? Top 5 long-lived trees

Native birches, weeping willows, mossy firs – people have always had a special reverence for trees. They were glorified in ancient times. They wrote poems and songs, made the main characters in the works, natural monuments: they were planted as a sign of an important event.

And one coniferous tree could become the main attribute of the holiday. Without it for several centuries, the New Year does not do without it. The Christmas tree has eclipsed in popularity all others in its family.

Trees are necessary for us not only as a source of oxygen. Green leaves and sturdy trunks decorate the planet and represent our favorite places. After all, it’s always nice to sit in the shade of a thick crown on a hot afternoon.

As a rule, trees have a long life and can catch the change of several generations of people. But not everything is so serene. As for any other living organism, external conditions and heredity are important for trees.

What influences the long life of a tree?

Soil type, air temperature, climate, presence or absence of pests, natural disasters – everything affects the favorable development and longevity of plants. Biologists have also found that heredity has a direct effect on longevity.

For example, baobabs can endure the hot climate of Africa, elephant raids and even lightning strikes. Trees remain in great shape for several thousand years due to their unique properties, characteristic only for their species.

It is impossible to reliably establish exactly how long baobabs live. These trees do not have annual rings. Scientists make an assumption based on external signs in their case: estimate the size of the tree and the estimated growth rate. Studies have shown that the baobab can reach an age of 5,000 years. The oak has a duration of only 1,500 years.

But the most accurate way to know the age of a tree is dendrochronology. The science deals with counting the annual tree rings. Each ring marks a complete cycle of seasons, or one year of life. Thanks to dendrochronology it was possible to find out which trees are long-lived today and were included in the top list of the oldest trees.

The common spruce from Sweden

Today this coniferous tree is the oldest tree in the world. Its age, according to scientists’ calculations, is more than 9.5 thousand years.

Interesting fact. A couple of decades ago, the tree could disappear, as it began to die off and dry up. But it had young shoots, which gave strength and prolonged the life of the spruce. Outwardly now the old tree looks about the same compared to the young shoots.

Pinus pine from the United States

This conifer has a name – Methuselah. It grows in a national park in California, in its eastern part. Today, it’s almost 5,000 years old. Its exact location is classified from visitors.

The reasons are understandable. Often people, realizing the fact that they are near the legend, begin to damage the tree and take away its pieces or offshoots. Perhaps you may have seen an elder tree if you’ve been to a California park.

African baobabs

Scientists estimate that some species of these trees are 4,500 years old. The method of radiocarbon analysis is used to estimate the age.

In addition to records for longevity, baobabs are also among the trees with the thickest trunk. Some of them are about 10 meters in diameter. The tree’s porous structure resembles a sponge, which helps it survive drought. Baobab can absorb more than 100 thousand liters of water.

Sequoia from the USA

Another representative of long-lived trees grows in a national park in the USA. General Sherman, and that is how the elder is called, has been growing here for 2.7 thousand years. The height of the tree is also impressive – 84 meters. The girth at the ground is 31 meters. According to scientists, the sequoia continues to grow, increasing the diameter of the trunk.

Oak grove in Moscow

Russia can also boast of long-lived trees. These include the oak tree. In Moscow, a whole grove of centuries-old trees grows in Kolomensky Park.

According to biologists, their age ranges from 400 to 1000 years. Great historical figures liked to stroll here: Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, poet Alexander Pushkin. One of the trees is even named in honor of the latter. According to legends, the poet liked to rest in its hay.

Despite the fact that a large number of long-lived trees are protected, deforestation remains the main problem in ecology. In developed countries, this process is strictly controlled and banned in some places. It is in our power to prolong the life of green neighbors that help clean the air and decorate gray days.

Earlier we told you about the world’s oldest cats. Look for the longevity record holders among the mustachioed ones in this article.
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