Every tree is a miracle.
From their expansive networks of roots to their vibrant displays of leaves, flowers, and pinecones, trees are some of nature's most extraordinary organisms. As humans, our existence depends on their ability to recycle carbon dioxide, move water, and release oxygen, and their fallen leaves and decayed roots are vital to the health of the soil. In short, we couldn't exist without them.
Even though every tree is special, some are admittedly more awe-inspiring than others. Here are some of the world's most extraordinary trees (but remember that each tree outside your window is just as worthy of your appreciation).
1. The Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree allthatsinteresting.com
The rainbow eucalyptus tree grows up to 250 feet tall and is notable for its bark, which peels off in strips to reveal colorful layers of new skin. Each tree is a unique collection of colors, and the bark can range in hue from maroon to violet to red to pastel blue. The tree also produces small white flowers, and its leaves contain glands that release a pleasant-smelling oil. You'll find this dazzling tree in the Philippines, New Guinea, Hawaii, and Indonesia.
▲ 2. Tetrameles Nudifloras allthatsinteresting.com
These deciduous trees look like what might happen if God lit a candle and the wax dripped down to Earth. They are common in East Asia, but can also be found in Australia. These rare organisms typically grow in solitude, and they produce seasonal flowers and small fruits seasonally.
▲ 3. Wisteria, Japan boredpanda.com
At 144 years old, this sprawling wisteria is the oldest tree of its kind in Japan. Located in Ashikaga Flower Park, the tree is an ethereal paradise of pinks and purples that stretches across a total of 1,999 square meters. While there are magnificent wisteria all across Japan, this one takes the cake for the most breathtaking.
▲ 4. The Angel Oak, South Carolina rare.us
Located on St. John's Island off the coast of Charleston, Carolina, this tree may resemble the Mind Flayer from Stranger Things, but it's been calmly growing in place for at least 500 years (1,500, if you ask locals). Regardless in its actual age, the Angel Oak is believed to be one of the oldest organisms east of the Mississippi River. It stands 65 feet tall and 17,000 square meters wide, and its longest branch extends 187 feet. Frequently, festivals occur underneath its web of branches, and the tree has a long history of sheltering people under its canopy.
▲ 5. Dragonblood Trees, Yemen pinterest.com
The funnel-shaped Socotra Tree grows two hundred feet off the coast of Yemen. Also known as the Dragonblood or Dragon's Blood tree, this striking organism is only found on Socotra Island, which has a unique climate that caused the trees to evolve into their current shapes. Unfortunately, climate change is interfering with the monsoons that are vital to these trees' existence, making them an endangered species.
Fascinatingly, the tree actually "bleeds" when it's cut. Its trunk is full of a resin known as "emzoloh," which has been valued for its medicinal properties for thousands of years.
▲ 6. Methuselah, California pinterest.com
The bristlecone pine called Methuselah is 4,851 years old, making it the second oldest tree in the world. It can be found in the White Mountains of California, but its location is a well-kept secret. Even if its location was publicly available, the tree wouldn't be easy to reach—it sits 11,000 feet above sea level, clinging to the edge of a desolate cliff.
The actual oldest tree in the world, another bristlecone pine located near Methuselah, was discovered in 2013, and its exact location has also been kept a secret.
Both of these trees are maps of the last five thousand years on Earth, and their rings contain evidence of ancient hurricanes, plagues, global freezes, and atom bomb explosions. They were seedlings when the Egyptians built the ancient Pyramids, and now, they're imposing witnesses to the passage of time.
▲ 7. The Slope Point Trees, New Zealand earthtouchnews.com
The trees on the edge of New Zealand's South Island are constantly blasted by an Antarctic wind strong enough to mold them into the striking shapes you see above. Slope Point experiences winds that rush in at over 3,000 kilometers per hour uninterrupted before slamming into the trees, which were originally planted by sheep farmers to give their flock some refuge.
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