The 9 Oldest, Tallest, and Biggest Trees in the World
Biggest Trees in the World
THE BIGGEST TREE IN THE WORLD: GENERAL SHERMAN
The biggest tree in the world is a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) tree that is located in Sequoia National Park. At an incredible 52,500 cubic feet, it is, by volume, the largest single tree in the world. Also known as General Sherman, this giant sequoia represents the perfect cross-section of height, width, and age.
Some of this giant sequoia's branches are larger than individual trees you would encounter in other forests and parks — and if you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting, you know the overwhelming emotion that accompanies its grandeur.
General Sherman and other giant sequoia trees are threatened by forest fires that grow in size and intensity every year. To help protect these giants, rangers wrap the first 10-15 feet of their base with a protective foil that reduces the likelihood that fires ignite nearby.
ÁRBOL DEL TULE
While many of the world’s largest tree species are located in California, Árbol del Tule makes this list thanks to having the stoutest trunk in the world. Its Nahuatl name, ahuehuete meaning “old man of the water,” certainly lives up to its 1,400 years of age.
A Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum), measurements place Árbol del Tule's diameter at 30.8 feet — an impressive accomplishment given that it is "only" 116 feet tall. The local Mixe people believe that this tree took root from the walking stick of a God.
THE WORLD'S LARGEST CANOPY: THIMMAMMA MARRIMANU
Hindu legend has it that this tree grew from the spot where a widow, Thimmamma, threw herself onto her late husband’s funeral pyre. An incredibly notable banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis), Thimmamma Marrimanu’s great size is most apparent when viewed from above.
It has the largest canopy of any tree in the world, covering a distance of 4,721 acres. This impressive spread is only possible due efforts by the local forest department, who work to support its young roots, reinforce its larger roots, and water the tree via a specially designed underground pipe system.