The oldest tree growing on our planet

In 1997, Julia Hill set a record forstaying on a tree. Thus, she wanted to draw public attention to the problem of forest conservation. It is unknown how far she has achieved her goal, but she managed to save the red giant tree from cutting. It is worth knowing that plants do not suffer from age-related diseases, unlike people. Over time, one part may die, the other - grow over the centuries.

Probably each of us in childhood was told aboutthat some plant species can live for hundreds of years. However, not even all adults know that the oldest tree is almost 10,000 years old. In Sweden, on the mountain Fulu spruce grows Old Tjikko, whose age was calculated by scientists. When they first started talking about it, the age of the tree was “only” several thousand years. Of course, its trunk is periodically updated, but the roots of the plant originated 100 centuries ago.

The question that scientists for a long time could notanswer about how the oldest tree in the world could survive all climate changes in the world, found its explanation in that Old Tjikko died for a certain period of time, and under favorable conditions, again gave escape. This was the reason for the erroneousness of the first judgment of scientists about the age of spruce.

Until the forties of the twentieth century, it was a trunk that

stood out against the background of a few greens. At the same time, a favorable change in weather conditions led to the fact that the tree began to grow again.

Until the exact age was determinedspruce, the oldest tree in the world was represented by pine Methuselah. It grows in the National Reserve of California, but the exact place is kept secret from the public. However, it is known that it grows at an altitude of more than three thousand meters above sea level. The name of the plant was given in honor of the biblical character, whose earthly journey was 969 years. Currently, Methuselah is considered the oldest uncomplanted living organism on

planet earth. According to scientists, his life began in 2831 BC. er

Some researchers, as a challengerfor the title of “the oldest tree on earth”, Prometheus put forth an intermountain pine. She grew up on Mount Wheeler Peak in the United States. Presumably this plant was more than 5000 years old, but the exact age remained a mystery. It was discovered in 1958 by naturalists, who named it in honor of the mythological character of Prometheus.

In 1963, Donald Curry, a researcher, arrivedto this area for the purpose of studying the plant world. Here he came across the oldest tree being described and gave it a name - WPN - 114. Using the technologies of that time, the scientist proved that the plant is at least 3-4 thousand years old. In 1964, D. Curry, with the consent of the US Forest Service (USFS), cuts down pine and divides into parts, which were later sent to different laboratories. Currently, parts of Prometheus can be seen in various American museums. And in the place where the oldest tree grew, now there is only a stump. For what purpose the scientist needed to destroy the whole plant - is unknown.