Your Daily Dish

Feeding Outrageous to you Daily

Hide Advertisement
  • Animals
    • Farm
    • Pets
    • Zoo
    • Wildlife
  • Family
    • Grandparents
    • Kids
    • Parents
  • Health
    • Exercise
    • Food
    • Medical
  • Humor
  • Lifestyle
    • News
    • Science & Tech
    • Travel
  • Videos
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

At 5,065 Years Old, Meet the World’s Oldest Living Tree (But This Tree Isn’t It)

By Jason Owen 2 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below
Methuselah Tree (Source: Pinterest)
Methuselah Tree (Source: Pinterest)

And you thought your parents were old.

Until several years ago, researchers had thought the oldest living tree in the world was a 4,847-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine, located in the White Mountains of California. The tree was aptly named “Methuselah,” after the man reported to have lived the longest – 969 years – in the Hebrew Bible, according to Wikipedia. However, researchers have now located another tree that is more than 200 years older than Methuselah.

Advertisement

Also located in the White Mountains, another Great Basin bristlecone pine has been dated by the Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research group to 5,062 years old (as of 2012; so she’s got a few extra years, or tree-rings on her now). The tree has yet to be named.

In a recent Facebook video posted by Mental Floss, they explain the discovery of the tree, but that researchers have kept the exact location of the tree a secret out of fear that too many visitors might harm or damage the tree and surrounding area. Essentially, they fear humans might “love it to death.”

After this new tree and Methuselah, the next confirmed oldest tree was yet another Great Basin bristlecone pine named Prometheus, located in Wheeler Peak in Nevada. However, that tree was cut down in 1964.

Wikipedia lists two more 4,000-year-old-plus trees, but their exact ages are only estimated and have never officially been confirmed.

The Llangernyw Yew located in North Wales is thought to be between 4,000-5,000 years old.

The Sarv-e Abarkuh (also known as the “Zoroastrian Sarv”) is a Mediterranean cypress located in Abarkuh, Yazd, Iran, and is considered a national monument. LiveScience.com states the tree “may well be the oldest living thing in Asia.”

For now, you can only imagine what the world’s oldest tree looks like, or you adventurer-types can head out to the White Mountains to try to find it yourselves.

Source: Facebook/MentalFloss
Source: Facebook/MentalFloss
Source: ScoopNest.com
Source: ScoopNest.com
Advertisement - Continue reading below

Girl Receives Doll With Prosthetic Leg Like Hers, Can’t Contain Her Joy
Apple
Lauren Boudreau 1 min read

Girl Receives Doll With Prosthetic Leg Like Hers, Can’t Contain Her Joy

Brilliant Ways to Maximize Your Outdoor Space
Apple
Jason Owen 2 min read

Brilliant Ways to Maximize Your Outdoor Space

Check Out How You Can Find Your Evolutionary Roots in Your Own Body
Lifestyle
Margo Gothelf 2 min read

Check Out How You Can Find Your Evolutionary Roots in Your Own Body

The Elephants From the Ringling Brother’s Circus Are Finally Retiring
Apple
Margo Gothelf 2 min read

The Elephants From the Ringling Brother’s Circus Are Finally Retiring

Veteran’s Chillingly Prophetic Last Words Go Viral After New Year’s Eve Death
Lifestyle
Brian Delpozo 2 min read

Veteran’s Chillingly Prophetic Last Words Go Viral After New Year’s Eve Death

Obama Daughters’ Swing Set Donated to Shelter after Trump Turned it Down
Apple
Brian Delpozo 1 min read

Obama Daughters’ Swing Set Donated to Shelter after Trump Turned it Down

Students Around the Country Are Taking Random Acts of Kindness to a New Level
Apple
Margo Gothelf 3 min read

Students Around the Country Are Taking Random Acts of Kindness to a New Level

Twitter Campaign Hopes To Fulfill Dying Man’s Last Wish To See ‘The Force Awakens’ Early
Entertainment
Jason Owen 2 min read

Twitter Campaign Hopes To Fulfill Dying Man’s Last Wish To See ‘The Force Awakens’ Early

Mom Literally Jumps for Joy When Soldier Son Surprises Her at Work
Apple
Margo Gothelf 2 min read

Mom Literally Jumps for Joy When Soldier Son Surprises Her at Work

7-Year-Old Donates Piggybank To Vandalized Mosque, Gets Unexpected Gift In Return
Lifestyle
Jason Owen 2 min read

7-Year-Old Donates Piggybank To Vandalized Mosque, Gets Unexpected Gift In Return

10 Tips to Make Back to School Shopping as Painless as Possible
Apple
Brian Delpozo 3 min read

10 Tips to Make Back to School Shopping as Painless as Possible

Twitter Considers Expanding 140-Character Limit to 10,000 Characters
News
Margo Gothelf 2 min read

Twitter Considers Expanding 140-Character Limit to 10,000 Characters

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers