The oldest tree in the world ever was, as we know so far, Prometheus, which was cut in 1964. The legend of that tree is sad, and yet, ironic: The irony is that scientists had looked for a record breaking tree with no result, in the Great Basin National Park of Nevada for years, when a graduate student requested the permission to cut one of the trees. Permission was granted and after cutting the tree, the student exposed that it was actually older than the oldest living organism on Earth. Prometheus, a bristle cone pine, was at least 4862 years, if not even more, when it was so foolishly cut. The oldest trees still living in the world are listed below.
10. General Sherman
General Sherman is 2500 years old tree. Situated in the National Sequoia Park, Giant Forest, in Tulare County (California). In 1879 the tree was given the name of General Sherman, on the name of a naturalist. Tree is non-clonal in nature. It is as well included in the list of world largest trees. Its description is 83.8 meter height (275ft), 7.7 widths (25ft) and trunk volume is 1, 487 cubic meters. It is really a gigantic monster in the Giant forest. With such a great age we can call Sherman the “granddaddy” of the National Sequoia Park.
9. Old Chestnut
Chestnut trees are on nine number in our list. There is different opinion about its age, no accurate age is defined. Perhaps it is 2,000 or 4,000 years old. It belongs to a fagaceae family, having eight species on the planet. European, Asiatic, Chinese, Japanese and American species are more prominent. But the oldest chestnut’s region is Sicily (Italy). Its growth speed is different according to the atmosphere of region. In the same way its height and width as well differ according to the expected atmosphere. Traditionally it is called the “tree of 100 horses”.
8. Alyshun
It may reach 55 to 60 meters in height once it is fully grown. It is also well-known for being able to reach reputable ages, and the oldest of the species, called the “Alishan Sacred Tree”, which fell in 1997, due to heavy rainstorms, assumed to have been 3,000 years old. It had an important meaning for the Buddhist in its area and thus they were the most affected by its loss.
7. Patriarch
It is the three thousand years old tree found in Atlantic forest of Brazil. It is one of the oldest and tallest trees of the world.
6. Jardine Juniper
Jardine is the oldest tree listed on sixth No. in our list. It is American origin, in fact named on the name of an American secretary of agriculture. Essentially it is discovered by State’ Agriculture College. Its estimated length is about 40 feet.
5. Senator
The oldest tree of this kind has estimated age of 3,500 years and it stands 125 meters tall; with a trunk diameter of 17.5 feet but a storm have broken its top. No storm could ever put down the Senator though! Having been present to many historic events and having carried different significations both for Indians citizen and for the colonists, this tree may live long to observe many other generations on the Earth.
4. Alerce
One of the oldest tree types that are still flourishing today is the Patagonian Cypress. Fossilized parts of this plant were believed to be 35 million years old. Today, the oldest Patagonian cypress, or Alerce, has counted 3,500 years of survival. This huge tree measures between 170 feet, but much larger specimens existed in the past.
3. Llangernyw Yew
Even though Yew trees are long living trees, the kind ever touched the esteemed aged between 4,000 to 5,000 years. Still though no one knows for sure exactly how old this tree is, scientists consider that it may even be older. Located in Wales, United Kingdom, the Yew tree is thing to local legends and superstitions.
2. Sarv-e-Abarkooh
Sarv-e Abar Kuh is the second oldest living tree in the world, very highly regarded in its native land; Sarv-e-Abarkooh is an impressive 4,000 years old cypress with a height of 25 meters and circumference of 18 meters. This tree may be found in Abarkooh, in Iran. It is sheltered by the cultural tradition organization of Iran. It is very important for the Iranian people, and besides its symbolic and religious significations, Sarv-e-Abarkooh is also a famous visitor attraction.
1. Methuselah
The oldest tree on Earth is a Bristle-cone pine usually called “Methuselah”. It is 4,789 years old and it stands proudly in Methuselah alley, Nevada. Methuselah was not the oldest tree in the area, as Prometheus was the record holder up to 1964, when it was cut, as narrated above. Methuselah’s real location is hidden in order to protect it from vandalism acts.
