How old is the oldest tree on earth?

Trees are known to live for years. Depending on the species, they can live for 100 to more than 1000 years. You might wonder how old is the oldest tree on earth which you will know in this blog.

The age of the tree is measured by counting the number of rings in the base of the tree. This is called dendrochronology. 

The oldest tree on earth is Methuselah. It belongs to the bristlecone pine family, these species are known to last 5000 years.  The oldest bristlecone pine tree is said to be 4854 years old. 

It is located in the Inyo National Forest, Eastern California. The exact location of the tree has not been disclosed to protect this ancient tree from being vandalized by the locals and tourists. 

We all know that the rings at the base of the tree help us determine how old the tree is. But, it would be against the public interest to cut down a tree so old(trees in general). It is also obvious to think that as a living thing whether trees have consciousness or not.

Luckily, there is another method of figuring out the age without cutting the whole tree down. An increment borer. An increment borer is a tool that is drilled into the tree to carve out a small cylinder from the tree. Then the rings in the cylinder are counted to determine its age.

An interesting fact about the Methuselah is that it is not only the tree that has such a long life. The pine needles on the tree have been known to last 30 years. Even the pinecone takes about two years to fully mature. This helps them protect the energy that is required to produce more pine needles and pinecones.

Bristlecone pine trees usually live long. This is because they take time to grow and the wood is very dense to withstand the harsh weather conditions. 

The slow growth helps them become sturdy and strong to survive the storms of the hills. This also makes them immune to fungi and other parasites which further helps them grow and survive longer than other normal trees.

The fact that the location of this amazing tree has not been disclosed speaks volumes on how humans are. So, we need to do better and create a better environment for other beings that we share this planet with. 

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FAQs

1. Which is the oldest tree in the world?

The oldest tree in the world is the Methuselah tree.

2. How old is the oldest tree in the world?

The Methuselah tree is 4854 years old.

3. Is there a 10,000-year-old tree?

A colony of Huon Pine trees in Mount Read is said to be roughly 10,000 years old.

4. Which tree is the oldest in India?

The Great Banyan tree is the oldest in India.

5. Where is the oldest tree in the world?

The oldest tree in the world is located in California, USA. It is situated in the Inyo National Forest.