There are over 60,000 types of trees on the planet. Every second of every day, on every imaginable terrain, new growth presses through the earth in search of the sun. Some trees, like those that aim to take root between the cracks of sidewalks, fall before they have a chance to truly stand. Others have been alive since the end of The Stone Age, 5,000 years ago.
Trees have long provided humans with shade, food, and material for shelter, but there are several trees whose greatest purpose is to remind humanity of its interconnectedness with nature. This list of iconic trees from around the world underlines the deep roots that connect us all.
8 The Major Oak
In the thick of England’s Sherwood Forest stands a giant English oak tree that’s close to a thousand years old. It’s hypothesized that the large girth of The Major Oak is due to several saplings consolidating to form one unified trunk. Over the years, the soil surrounding the famous tree was compressed by constant foot traffic, compromising the roots beneath. To mitigate damage, fencing was put up around the tree in the 1970s. At a weight of approximately 23 tons or 46,000 pounds, this giant is held up by several supports attached from its thick branches to the ground.
7 Pando
Millions of tourists head to Utah’s national parks every year, but something just as extraordinary exists a short drive away in the Fishlake National Forest. A colony of genetically identical Quaking aspen trees forms the largest living single organism in the entire world. It is believed that one male aspen started it all, cloning himself over and over to create an intricate root system underground that spans over 100 acres. In the fall, Pando’s bright, orangey-yellow leaves burn against Utah’s beautifully blue sky. Sadly, it seems Pando is slowly dying due to several factors, including deer overpopulation, drought caused by climate change, and wildfires.
6 Árbol del Tule
The widest tree in the entire world dwells on the church grounds in the town of Santa María del Tule in Oaxaca, Mexico. Best estimates age the tree around 1,500 years old with a circumference of over 160 feet. The enormous Montezuma cypress draws crowds to examine the bark, where it is said the shapes of all different animals can be found in the knotted branches. Named the national tree of Mexico, Árbol del Tule is an impressive reminder of how nature thrives in the most unexpected of places.
5 Hyperion
Located in northern California, Redwood National Park has been astounding visitors with its dense forest of impressive coastal redwoods. As the tallest living tree on the planet, Hyperion is perhaps the most impressive of them all. Named after one of the twelve titans in Greek mythology, Hyperion towers over the surrounding forest canopy. The tree is between six and eight hundred years old and just over 380 feet tall, or as tall as a thirty-five-story building. With no end in sight, it’s amazing to wonder what heights Hyperion might reach in the next 800 years.
4 Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
The history is heavy on the divine Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Sri Lanka, a sacred fig tree heavily protected by its people. Buddha achieved Enlightenment while sitting propped against a Bodhi tree. A branch from this tree was then transported to and planted in Sri Lanka, where it has grown for over 2,200 years. Due to its sacred status, believers make pilgrimages to the tree every year to pay respect to the rich history found within its branches.
3 Methuselah
The second oldest living tree can be found in eastern California. Methuselah is a Bristlecone pine named after a biblical figure who lived a really, really long time. Methuselah the tree is 4,800 years old and stands over 200 feet tall. Surrounded by other Bristlecones, Methuselah stands out with its mostly bare branches, which protrude like fingers from its imposing trunk. Its exact location has been hidden in an effort to prevent vandalism, but anyone willing to put in the time will be able to find this ominously beautiful tree 11,000 feet above sea level in the White Mountains.
2 Tree of Life
At the highest point of Bahrain, Prosopis cineraria, a tree in the pea family, has defied the odds by surviving and thriving for 400 years. Surrounded by an endless sea of Arabian Desert sand, it is the only tree in the area. It has come to be known as The Tree of Life due to its resilience. Against all expectations, the tree continues to grow healthy, vibrant, green leaves year after year. Over 60,000 people visit this scenic oddity annually to ponder where exactly it draws its water from.
1 Socotra Dragon Trees
Although there’s more than one, the Dragon Blood Trees located on the island of Socotra in Yemen deserve a spot on this list of iconic trees. Native solely to the island which they grow on, these rare trees have recently been put on the endangered list. There are conservation efforts in effect to turn this around. The branches of these strange succulents grow close together, creating a natural umbrella. They get their name from the blood-red sap inside of them, which has been used medicinally to treat wounds and as a natural dye.