Study suggests Chile could be home to world's oldest tree

[Judi Lynn]

Updated: 2022-05-27 07:30:15 KST

Scientists may have discovered the world's oldest tree in Chile's Alerce Costero National Park.

A new study found that an ancient alerce tree, known as the "great grandfather", could be around 5,484 years old.

The lead scientist Jonathan Barichivich said the sample they extracted and other dating methods gave them the estimate and that there's only a 20-percent chance the tree is younger.

So far, scientists haven't been able to determine its exact age based on tree rings, because of the tree's massive trunk. But the estimated age would beat the current record-holder, a 4,853 year-old bristlecone pine tree in California.

http://www.arirang.com/news/News_View.asp?nseq=300164

[Bayard]

1. Here's a pic from another source

Amazing!

[Judi Lynn]

2. OMG! Breathtaking. It seems impossible to live that long. Long may it continue. Thank you. 🌳

[Phoenix61]

3. Anyone else just want to lean against it?

I can’t imagine touching something that is that old and still living.