The thickest tree in the world is Thule. The largest trees in the world
The widest tree in the world is the Baobab or Adansonia digitata - a type of tree that grows mainly in dry savannas tropical Africa, in Madagascar and in Northern Australia. The tree itself is huge, but this concerns mainly the diameter of the trunk - it can reach a couple of tens of meters! However, the height rarely exceeds 25 m.
Since the baobab grows in arid places, during drought it begins to use up its own supply of moisture - not only sheds its leaves, but also decreases in volume! Typically this happens in winter period. The rest of the time, Adansonia palmata lives its own life and even blooms for a couple of months a year - the flowers are very large (up to 20 cm in diameter) and at the same time very beautiful. They bloom in the evening, attracting the attention of the bats that pollinate them, then wither, acquire a putrid odor and disappear. After this, shaggy fruits appear, which in their shape somewhat resemble cucumbers. Inside them there is sourish pulp with black seeds.
Since the tree trunk is highly saturated with moisture, it is susceptible to fungal diseases. This is why adult baobabs often rot inside. Despite this feature, the plant itself is incredibly tenacious - even if it is cut down, it is capable of sprouting new roots.
As for life expectancy, scientists are still arguing about this. But the fact is that baobabs do not have tree rings, therefore, reliably calculating the age of a plant is very problematic. However, there are special analyzes that have shown that the age of a 4.5-meter tree (in diameter) is more than 5 thousand years, although some experts are sure that adansonia digitata does not live more than a thousand years.
Baobab is used by local people. So, from its bark you can get the strongest fiber, which is used in the manufacture of fabrics and fishing nets. Also, special medicines are created from the bark that help with diseases such as asthma, fever, dysentery, colds, and so on. The leaves are used as food - in some places they are used to make soup, in others they are fried, in others they are added to cold appetizers. The pulp of the fruit is very nutritious and rich in vitamins, although it tastes like ginger. And the dried pulp of the fruit is ground into powder and diluted with water - a drink similar to lemonade is obtained (it’s not for nothing that the baobab tree is sometimes called the lemonade tree).
Wide trees, however, can be found closer to “civilization.” Thus, in the Mexican city of Oaxaca there grows a cypress tree, which locals call El Arbol. del Tule. Its height is 40 meters, trunk diameter is 11.62 m, trunk girth is 36.2 m. However, scientists believe that this is not one tree, but several fused together. Be that as it may, the cypress is a famous landmark of the city.
Many years of research, observations and statistics show that these days the most thick tree in the world - African baobab. The largest of its described representatives had a trunk diameter of about nine meters. And among the record holders there was a baobab, whose trunk had a girth of 54.5 meters. This is extremely unusual tree. Not only its size is striking, but also its proportions. Having a trunk size of ten meters, it grows in height to only 20 meters. These trees are unusually tenacious, quickly recover from damage to the bark and can grow for hundreds of years with the core completely disintegrated.
In the photo: Baobab prison in Australia. The tree was used as a temporary prison in late XIX century.
The baobab tree's trunk divides at the top into smooth, thick branches that form a crown up to 40 meters in diameter. Its core is very loose and is subject to rapid destruction under the influence of fungi. The result is large hollow trunks, any one of which could comfortably accommodate up to 30 people. Local aborigines use them as storehouses for storing grain, water reservoirs and for other purposes. In Kenya, one of the baobab trees is equipped as a shelter for travelers, in Zimbabwe - as a bus station with a waiting room for 40 people, in Botswana - as a prison. In the center of Africa, in a tree that is 6,000 years old, there is a bar that uses great success from tourists.
In the photo: A toilet built in a baobab tree. Zambia.
There are also unique “mammoth trees” - sequoiadendrons. The most famous of them is "General Sherman", 84 meters in height, with a base diameter of 11 meters and a crown circumference of 31.3 meters. The estimated volume of its wood is 1487 m3, weight – 6 tons. In Mexico, a sequoia grows, not as massive as sequoiadendrons, but surpassing them in diameter - more than 35 meters. Outwardly, it looks like it consists of several trunks, but the analysis showed that the tree is one.
In general, sequoias are considered one of the largest trees in nature, growing 50-80 meters in height, with a trunk diameter of up to 8-10 meters. There is a description that on the American continent there was a giant tree with a trunk diameter of 36 meters. There is a known case when such a tree fell, blocking the highway. They had to build a tunnel through it, and it still functions today. Thanks to such a colossal cross-section of the trunks, small cafes and even dance floors are set up on the stumps of felled trees. Another record for this type of tree is that they have an unusually thick bark - 60-70 centimeters. They live for several thousand years, but gradually die out; only no more than 500 specimens have survived.
In the photo: mammoth tree, sequoiadendron "General Sherman"
There are giant “fat trees” among other types of trees. For example, in Mexico there is a giant taxodium Mexicana, known as "Thule Tree" The diameter of its trunk is 11.62 meters. It was believed that such a giant was formed from several tree trunks. But DNA analysis confirmed that his trunks have one genetic code, which means they are a single organism. The age of the giant is more than one and a half thousand years. His popular name- “tree of life”, since if you look closely at its bark you can distinguish the figures of various animals.
In the photo: Taxodium mexicanis, "Tule Tree" in the Mexican city of Santa Maria del Tule in the state of Oaxaca.
The common chestnut tree, growing near Mount Etna in Sicily, has a trunk with a diameter of 20.4 meters and a crown area of 64 meters. All this was accumulated by him over 4000 years. The giant is called “The Chestnut of a Hundred Horsemen”; according to legend, he sheltered a hundred knights on horseback from bad weather. The giant's trunk consists of five fused trees. For its gigantic crown area, the chestnut is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. In the photo: Chestnut of a hundred horsemen in Sicily.
Nature can surprise even the most skeptical observers: sometimes its quirks are difficult to imagine, but, nevertheless, it never ceases to create. The thickest trees on the planet are proof of this, because the majesty and longevity of kings flora constantly proves who is boss on this planet.
Australia: Baobab Prison
Traditionally African baobabs by default they are among the thickest trees on the planet, this is due to the special structure of the trunk and the aging characteristics of these giants. They do not stretch very high and over time they seem to fall apart, forming voids and labyrinths inside themselves and continuing to live.
However, the thickest tree in the world did not grow in Africa, but in Australia. The record was recorded in the 19th century. The trunk of the record-breaking tree reached 54.5 meters in girth. The core of the record-breaking baobab tree was long ago destroyed by time, which is why it began to resemble an empty room, but for many hundreds of years the absence of the core had no effect on the well-being of the tree. An Australian baobab tree was used as a temporary prison cell.
Africa: baobabs as utility rooms
In Africa, you can find hundreds of huge baobabs, the kings of the savannah, and local residents are not bothered by their uniqueness: interesting natural monuments that should be protected are quietly used as toilets, prisons, sheds, and storerooms.
So, in Kenya there is a baobab hotel for tourists who want to spend time closer to wildlife. In Zimbabwe, a bus station is located in a baobab tree where 40 people can wait for their departure. And in the center of Africa there is a small bar inside an old baobab tree. According to various legends, the age of such a baobab exceeds 6 thousand years.
Toilet in a baobab tree. Africa
Chestnut "Hundreds of Horses"
The Guinness Book of Records lists the chestnut tree of hundreds of horses as the thickest tree on earth. The girth of its trunk, according to legend, reached almost 58 meters in the 18th century, and grows on the island of Sicily.
They say that in the 18th century, the ruler of the island, Giovanna I of Aragon, was caught in a field by a thunderstorm with a small army. The spreading tree was able to protect not only the ruler, but also all the horsemen accompanying her, and there were at least a hundred of them.
Now the chestnut tree has split and consists of three trunks united by common roots. What it was like in the 18th century and how they weren’t afraid to stand under it remains a mystery. The girth of the largest trunk is 21.5 meters.
The estimated age of the chestnut is about 4 thousand years, during which time its crown has grown to a volume of 64 meters.
Today the giant chestnut tree is fenced and looks like this, but in ancient images you can still see its former appearance
Sequoia - the Mexican general of thick trees
Another record holder on the planet are sequoiadendrons, growing in countries Latin America and the USA. Many of them are protected by the state, whereas before the general cutting down of trees on American territory the forests consisted of such giants. Traditionally, sequoias are considered the tallest (up to 80 meters), but rather slender trees, but there are exceptions.
The most famous giant sequoia received the name "General Sherman". Its girth at the base is 11 meters, the volume of the crown exceeds 31 meters. The general is a record holder, since the average girth of a sequoia is 8 meters.
Sequoia General
There is documented material in the chronicles and the press about American redwood trees, which, when cut down, could serve as dance floors and cafes.
One of these giant trees fell onto the Crescent Meadow track as a result of a hurricane in 1937. The authorities considered that it was more expensive and more problematic to remove it than to cut a through tunnel directly in the collapsed trunk. The tunnel became a landmark in a Californian national park and is still in use today.
Californian national park
Sometimes tunnels were cut through redwood trees that had not yet fallen to provide passage or passage. Today this practice is not used, as there are no more than 500 specimens of giant trees left in the world. Latest of standing trees with a passage in the middle collapsed at the end of 2016. His age was about 1000 years.
This is what it looked like living tree, it was the main attraction of Calaveras Big Trees Park in California.
The attraction was called "Pioneer Hut"
In addition to the General Sherman, there was another giant tree, the girth of which reached 36 meters, but in this case the trunk was split and was divided into several diverging trunks.
Taxodium Mexicana – when is DNA analysis needed?
In Mexico, in the city of Santa Maria del Tule, state, Oaxaca, there is a tree called the “Tule Tree”. It belongs to Taxodium Mexicana; the giant's girth is 11.6 meters. It was previously believed that the Thule Tree was formed by the interweaving of several trunks. And specialists had to do a DNA analysis on the giant to determine whose roots and trunks there were. It turned out that this single organism, its age is already more than 1500 years. Locals call Tule the tree of life, as the outgrowths of the bizarre bark formed a pattern in the form of various animals on its trunk.
Giant trees impress not only with their size, but also with their age. If you think about it, these giants witnessed events that took place thousands of years ago.
People have always shown interest in everything. It is not for nothing that each country has its own book of records. But most of all, humanity was amazed by the wonders of nature. They will be discussed below. First, let's learn about the high tree in the world.
General information
In this category, the absolute champion is the sequoia, whose height can reach 100 m. The birthplace of this tree is the Pacific coast North America. You can see it not only in national parks, but also in some American and Canadian cities. So in Portland, redwood trees grow right on the streets. Sequoias are famous not only for their height, but also for their age. Some of them are 3 thousand years old. Sequoia is easily distinguished by its conical crown and cones. It also has a very thick bark, 30 cm wide. This giant can most often be found near the seashore or in wet gorges.
Numbers
The most tall sequoia, known as Hyperion, grows in California in national park"Redwood". The height of this tree is 115.8 m, and the diameter of the trunk is 5 m. The previous record holder was Helios, whose height reached 114.58 m. This tree is located in the same “Redwood”, which is no less interesting than. True, it occupied the palm for only a few months. Scientists keep the exact location of Hyperion secret so that tourists cannot destroy the local ecosystem.
Interesting fact. In the past, many trees were much taller. Thus, at the end of the 19th century, a 155 m high eucalyptus was discovered.
The oldest tree in the world
General information. Trees are one of the most long-lived organisms on the planet. There are at least 50 trees in the world that are over a thousand years old. The secret to their longevity is their features vascular system, allowing one part of the tree to die while the other continues to live. The real record holders for age among trees are pine trees. At 3000 years old they grow just as actively as at 100 years old. Unlike animals, they do not accumulate genetic mutations.
In addition to pine trees, there are also cypress trees among the long-livers. One of them grows in the city of Abarkuh, in Iran. Scientists say that it is already more than 4 thousand years old. And in Wales there is a yew tree, which, according to scientists, is 3 thousand years old. The giant sequoia named General Sherman can also boast of its age. Scientists believe that this tree is more than 2,700 years old.
Numbers
It's hard to believe, but the oldest tree is 9550 years old! This is Old Tjikko spruce, which grows in Sweden on Mount Fulu. Before that oldest tree considered the Methuselah pine from California national reserve. The named tree began its life in 2831 BC. It's hidden in Big Basin Bristlecone. It is surrounded by the same thousand-year-old pine trees. It is not for nothing that this place is called the Grove of the Ancients.
Interesting fact. How can plants survive the many climate changes that regularly occur on our planet? Scientists say that trees can, as it were, die for a while, and after a certain period of time give a new shoot.
The thickest tree in the world
General information. The most wide trees baobab trees are considered on earth. They mainly grow in the savannas of tropical Africa, Northern Australia and Madagascar. These trees can reach several tens of meters in diameter. Although their height rarely exceeds 25 m. The crown of such trees in diameter often exceeds 40 m. Baobabs bloom for several months a year. Their flowers are quite large (up to 20 cm) and very beautiful. They bloom in the evening, attracting bats. Baobab fruits are shaped somewhat like cucumbers. Mature baobabs often rot inside. According to one scientist, 30 people slept in the hollow of this tree. Sequoiadendrons or “mammoth trees” are also famous for their thickness. Their diameter often exceeds 10 m. The above-mentioned sequoias are not far behind.
Numbers
The European chestnut from Sicily, which grew on Mount Etna, once competed for the title of thickest tree. Its diameter was 20.4 m. Now this title is borne by a tree named Thule. It grows in the Mexican city of Santa Maria del Tule. The circumference of its trunk is 42 m, and its diameter is 14 m. Although at first glance it looks more like several trees fused together. It will take at least 30 people to hug this tree, and its shade can protect 500 people from the sun. Thule is 40 m high and weighs 636 tons. Legend has it that the tree was planted by an Aztec priest 1,400 years ago. It is part of the UNESCO heritage.
Interesting fact. During drought, baobabs use up their own supply of moisture, so they can decrease in volume. This most often happens in winter. The bark of the baobab tree produces a strong fiber used to make fishing nets and fabrics. In addition, medicines against asthma, dysentery and colds are created from the bark. And the leaves of this record holder are even eaten. A drink similar to lemonade is made from the pulp of the fruit, which is why the baobab tree is often called the lemonade tree. In Africa there is even a bar that was opened in the trunk of a baobab tree. It's worth going for this alone
We are all so accustomed to being surrounded by trees that when passing by, we no longer pay absolutely any attention to them. But our planet is rich in very unusual specimens, the appearance of which not only surprises, but makes one involuntarily stop in amazement.
Take, for example, the town of Santa Maria del Tule. To local residents(Mexicans) do not give any joy to the thickest tree growing here. True, some make money from tourists who want to see this miracle of nature.
The thickest tree of all existing today is recognized as the Thule tree. The trunk of this representative of the cypress tree reaches 14 meters in diameter and a circumference of 42 meters. Seeing it for the first time, one gets the impression that it is somewhat various trees, which simply grew together. However, DNA tests proved that this was the trunk of one tree.
It will be possible to completely embrace this giant only if 30 people join hands. Up to 500 people can hide in the shade of the tree. The Thule tree reaches a height of 40 meters and weighs 636 tons.
As mentioned earlier, it was initially believed that this was not one, but several trees. Despite the fact that tests refuted this fact, the hypothesis about the trunks different trees is not completely excluded. It was never possible to establish the exact age of Tula. Presumably the age of the thickest tree is from 1433 to 1600 years, although there are other versions.
According to Zapotec legend, the tree must now be 1,400 years old. It was planted by the priest of the Aztec wind god Ehecatl. Scientists have come to the conclusion that the age of the tree approximately coincides with the data of Indian belief. However, in some cases its antiquity has been estimated at 3000 and 6000 years.
Mexicans have no trouble caring for the famous tree: watering it, trimming its branches. They even celebrate the tree festival, which happens every year in October. There is no specific date: the celebration falls on the second Monday of the month.
Since 2001, the thickest tree has been considered an object World Heritage UNESCO.
An interesting fact is that the bark growths on the trunk look like animal figures. Therefore, Thule received another name: “Tree of Life”. If desired, you can see an elephant, lion, gorilla, anteater and even a crocodile on the trunk.