The 10 Most Famous Trees in the World

Trees are part of the history of this planet, but like all things they are born, die or are simply removed by man or by the weather. The Arbre du Ténéré was once considered the most isolated tree on Earth, a landmark on the caravan routes in the Sahara, until it was cut down by a drunk Libyan truck driver in 1973. This year in August, the famous Anne Frank tree in Amsterdam was brought down by strong winds during a storm. Fortunately, there are still many special trees out there. We'll present you with an overview of the most famous trees in the world.

10Arbol del Tule

Árbol del Tule, Montezuma Cypress, is located in the centre of Santa María del Tule, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It has the stoutest trunk of any tree in the world, although the trunk is heavily reinforced, giving a larger diameter reading than the true cross-section of the trunk. It's so big that it was originally thought to be several trees, but DNA tests have shown that it's a single tree. The tree is estimated to be between 1,200 and 3,000 years old.

9Cotton Tree

The Cotton Tree is a historic symbol of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. According to legend, the Cotton Tree became an important symbol in 1792 when a group of African-American former slaves, who had gained their freedom fighting for the British during the American War of Independence, settled the site of modern Freetown. They landed on the shore and headed for a gigantic tree just above the bay, and held a ceremony there to thank God for their liberation.

8Boab Prison Tree

The Boab Prison Tree is a large hollow tree just south of Derby, in Western Australia. It is known to have been used in the 1890s as a lock-up for Aboriginal Australian prisoners heading to Derby for sentencing. In recent years a fence has been erected around the tree to protect it from acts of vandalism.

7Major Oak

The Major Oak is an enormous oak in the heart of Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire, England. According to local folklore, it was Robin Hood's hideout where he and his band of outlaws slept. The famous tree is about 800 to 1000 years old. In 1790, Major Hayman Rooke, a noted antiquarian, included the tree in his popular book on the ancient oaks of Sherwood. It thus became known as The Major's Oak.

6Lone Cypress

The Lone Cypress Tree near Monterey is probably the most famous spot along the 17-Mile Drive, a scenic road through Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach. The road winds through kilometres of breathtaking coastal views over the Pacific, with crowds along the most historic and picturesque routes. The Monterey cypress is a species of cypress endemic to the central coast of California. In the wild, the species is confined to two small populations, near Monterey and Carmel.

5Tree of Life

The Tree of Life in Bahrain is a mesquite tree growing in the middle of the desert. The tree is said to be between 400 and 500 years old. Its long roots have probably found an underground source of water, but it is still a miracle as it is the only green living organism living in a vast and arid desert. Local inhabitants believe that this was the actual location of the Garden of Eden.

4Socotra dragon trees

The Dragon's Blood tree is probably the most famous and distinctive plant of the island of Socotra. It has a unique and strange appearance, shaped like an upside-down umbrella. This evergreen species takes its name from its dark red resin, known as "dragon's blood". The bizarre shape allows the tree to survive optimally in arid conditions. The huge packed crown provides enough shade to reduce evaporation.

3General Sherman

General Sherman is a giant sequoia located in the giant forest of Sequoia National Park in California. The famous trees of the giant forest are among the largest trees in the world. In fact, if measured by volume, five of the ten largest trees on the planet are found within this forest. About 11 metres around the base, the General Sherman tree is the largest of all. The tree is thought to be between 2,300 and 2,700 years old.

2Cedars of God

The Cedars of God is a small forest of about 400 Lebanon cedar trees among the mountains of northern Lebanon. They are among the last survivors of the extensive forests of Lebanon cedars that thrived in this region in ancient times. The cedars of Lebanon are mentioned in the Bible more than 70 times. The ancient Egyptians used its resin in mummification and King Solomon used the famous trees in the building of the first temple in Jerusalem.

1Avenue of the Baobabs

The Avenue of the Baobabs is a group of famous trees lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in western Madagascar. Its evocative landscape attracts travellers from all over the world, making it one of the most visited tourist attractions in Madagascar. The Baobab trees, which were up to 800 years old, did not originally stand isolated in a scrubland landscape, but in a dense tropical forest. Over the years, as the country's population grew, the forests were cleared for agriculture, leaving only the famous baobab trees.