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3600 year old “Alerce”

Fitzroya cupressoides

Published on Project Noah
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-40.1954, -73.4512

Field Notes

Description:

This behemoth is estimated to be the second oldest tree in the world, measured by ring count in 1993 to be 3622 years old.<br>
It is more than 60 m tall, with a trunk diameter of 4.26 m

Habitat:

This is the largest known living Fitzroya cupressoides and is located at Alerce Milenario in Alerce Costero National Park, Chile.

Notes:

In 1977 every one of these trees where declared Natural Monument in Chile, so it's a crime to cut one down.<br>
This particular tree has a Folk festival in it's honour. <br>
There was supposed to be far bigger specimens of these trees, and by seeing the burnt forests with thousands of huge logs still standing after hundreds of years, it isn't hard to imagine there probably where much bigger specimens than this.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

Thanks Perils of Plastic. I agree, seeing the huge knots like scars in old hands is very thought provoking. Gracias Luis. El Parque Pumalin es un paseo que quiero hacer este verano.
Arbol increible Agustin. Yo vi unos en un parque llamado Pumalin cerca de Chaiten, Chile.
Just imagine the countless organisms that must have lived on this tree. If only it could talk . It would have so many stories to tell.
;·) will tell him Chief. The park has a very unique biodiversity so I'll try to go soon, before the roads get all messed up again.
Yes, special whole day trip and I only manage to take two lousy pictures of the subject of my trip... oh well, next time for sure.

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