“the oldest tree in the world!”
Methuselah is a 4845-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) tree growing high in the White Mountains of Inyo County in eastern California. For many years it was the world's oldest known living non-clonal organism, until superseded by the discovery in 2013 of another bristlecone pine in the same area with an age of 5063 years (germination in 3051 BC). The tree is named after Methuselah, a Biblical figure having the longest mentioned lifespan in the Bible of 969 years.. The tree grows at 2,900 to 3,000 m (9,500 to 9,800 ft) above sea level in the "Methuselah Grove" in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest within the Inyo National Forest. Methuselah's exact location is undisclosed to protect it from vandalism. Methuselah was 4,789 years old when sampled (likely in 1957) by Edmund Schulman and Tom Harlan, with an estimated germination date of 2832 BC. Methuselah was for many years considered the world's oldest living tree, until the 2013 announcement of the discovery of an older bristlecone pine. Another bristlecone specimen, WPN-114 and nicknamed "Prometheus", was more than 4,844 years old when cut down in 1964, with an estimated germination date of 2880 BC. A dendrochronology, based on these trees and other bristlecone pine samples, extends back to about 9000 BC, albeit with a single gap of about 500 years.
Reviews
This place is just a tour to history! The views are spectacular. Not far away from Lone Pine, these trees are so precious to see.
It is important to go to the Visitor Center which is operated by the National Forest Service, and learn about the history of this oldest tree in the world and the importance of it.
Wear comfortable shoes, there are some hilly areas to walk! The temperatures vary as well, so bring a warmer coat for you and your children plus water and food.
Great experience and very educating.
The new one is just over 5,000 years old. I've been in the grove with a biology team. What a rare opportunity.
I believe they had no idea how old it was when they cut it down.
While visiting Bryce Canyon this past summer, the tour guide told us all about Bristlecone Pines, and how they had found one that was over 5000 years old. Is this where the new one was discovered, or was he just not being accurate?
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They haven't cut any down recently, they did in the 1960's.
??
Why did they cut it down???? Was it growing for 5000 years over a furure hight way or what?
And the address is wrong - this is near Lone Pine, CA, not Redwood City.
they just had to cut it down
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Methuselah Grove
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