Alerce Milenario facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alerce Milenario |
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The Alerce milenario circa 2007
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| Species | Fitzroya cupressoides |
| Location | Alerce Costero National Park, Chile |
The Alerce Milenario (which means "Millennial Alerce" or "Millennial Larch" in Spanish) is also called Gran Abuelo or "Great-Grandfather." This amazing tree is found in Alerce Costero National Park in Chile. It's known for being very old, and scientists think it might even be the oldest tree on Earth! This special tree is a type of Fitzroya cupressoides.
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Where is the Alerce Milenario Tree?
The Alerce Milenario tree lives in a deep valley. This valley is inside the Alerce Costero National Park. The park is about 137 hectares (340 acres) big. It reaches up to 1,048 m (3,438 ft) above sea level.
The weather here is rainy and mild all year. The average temperature is around 12°C (53°F). Many people visit the park each year. They come to see this incredible ancient tree.
How Old is the Great-Grandfather Tree?
The Alerce Milenario tree is huge! It measures over 4 m (13 ft) across. Some parts of its top branches have fallen off. Also, part of its trunk has died. The tree is covered with green lichens and mosses.
Scientists believe this tree could be over 5,000 years old. If this is true, it would be more than 100 years older than the current record holder. However, only about 28 percent of the tree is still alive. Most of its living parts are in its roots. This means people walking too close can harm the tree.
How Do Scientists Find a Tree's Age?
Scientists use a method called Dendrochronology. This is a fancy word for tree-ring dating. It's how they figure out a tree's exact age. They count the growth rings inside the tree. Each ring shows one year of growth. This method can also tell us about past climates.
To count the rings, scientists need to look inside the tree. This can be tricky. They use a special tool called an increment borer. It's like a T-shaped drill. It takes out a small piece of wood. This is done without hurting the tree too much.
Jonathan Barichivich and Antonio Lara from the Austral University of Chile used this tool. They drilled a partial hole into the Alerce Milenario. They couldn't reach the very center of the tree. So, they used computer models to guess the full age. They are 80% sure the tree is over 5,000 years old!
Protecting This Ancient Tree
People hope that knowing the tree's age will help protect it. Chile's National Forest Corporation has already increased efforts. They have added more park rangers. This helps keep the tree safe for future generations.
See also
- List of individual trees
- List of oldest trees
Images for kids
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The Alerce milenario circa 2007
