Unique trees

The Whistler Tree in Portugal is the world's oldest, largest cork tree. Cork comes from a single species of oak trees. Learn about this famous cork tree!

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Trees are among the oldest living organisms on the planet. Some individual trees have lived for several thousand years, and connected groves of trees can sometimes live for tens of thousands of years. Living that long requires a combination of steady climate, solitude, luck and of course, genetics. Some tree species consistently outlive the others. Based on tree rings (which form at the rate of one per year), these are the longest-lived tree species.

Manzanita tree. Pine Valley, California.

3,000 year old “Tree of Life” located in South Africa. One of the oldest living things on Earth.

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We humans often build roads and bridges, canals and ports, even entire cities at the expense of the environment. But nature isn't planning on giving up. On the contrary, it is determined to persevere, showing just how fragile our creations are.

Strangler fig in rainforest near Stony Creek near Wallaman Falls camping ground. See this blog post for more about the area.