The 10 Oldest Trees in the World That Are Still Alive

Trees are, as a rule, long-lived specimens. However, in the world you can meet real record holders in terms of life expectancy. These old men survived many wars, saw the fall of the Roman Empire and the construction of the pyramids of Giza.

This is a common spruce that grows in Fulufjället National Park in Sweden. It is 16 foot tall and 9550 years old. This is possible because the tree regenerates itself. When the aboveground part starts to die, the root system produces new shoots. The trunk is only 600 years old 😉 .

It is found in the White Mountains in the United States and is 5068 years old. It started growing even before the construction of the pyramid of Cheops at Giza. It survived the fall of the Roman Empire and the Civil War.

This is another longleaf pine specimen from the White Mountains. It is approximately 4853 years old and grows at an altitude of over 3280.84 yards. The tree began sprouting in 2832 B.C. It inherited its name from the biblical son Henoch, who according to the Old Testament was said to live 969 years. You can still visit the grove where Methuselah hides, but you'll have to guess at which tree it is, in order to protect and preserve the trees existence.

This evergreen Mediterranean cypress is about 4500 years old also called the "Zoroastrian Sarv," is a cypress tree in Yazd province, Iran. (city of Abarkuh). Locals believe that the tree was planted by the prophet and religious reformer, Zarathushtra. Locals have noted that Sarv-e Abarqu is most likely the oldest living thing in Asia.

A common yew that can be seen in the churchyard at St Dygain's Church in the Welsh village of Llangernyw. It is probably about 4500 years old, but its age is difficult to assess. According to legend, its trunk is inhabited by the evil spirit Angelystor, who on Halloween foretells the villagers who will die in the coming year.

This is the oldest yew tree in all of Turkey. It is 4112 years old and can be admired in the city of Zonguldak. The tree started growing in the Bronze Age.

Patagonian cypress, which is the oldest tree in all of South America. It is 3647 years old and grows in the Cordillera Pelada mountains in Chile. It is 196 foot high and was named by Charles Darwin himself (after the captain of the ship that brought him to South America).

This olive tree is located in Portugal. It is 3350 years old and still produces olives. It measures 26 foot high. There is a hole in its trunk where people used to hide from the rain or play cards. 😉

A specimen of giant sequoia grows at an altitude of about 2296 yards in the Sierra Nevada mountains (Sequoia National Park, USA). It is 3200 years old. Its crown is still growing, but the top of the tree has been dead since it was struck by lightning a thousand years ago. The sequoia was named in honor of President Warren G. Harding.

This is a specimen fig that grows in Sri Lanka (Anuradhapura city). It is a sacred tree because under its branches the Buddha experienced enlightenment. It is the oldest tree in the world that was planted by man. It has been growing since 288 BC. Every year pilgrimages are made by Buddhists to pay homage to Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.

Isn't this so surprising, that some of them are still growing?