Angel Oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Angel Oak |
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Angel Oak, Johns Island, South Carolina
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| Species | Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) |
| Location | Johns Island, South Carolina, US |
| Coordinates | 32°43′02″N 80°04′50″W / 32.71709°N 80.08043°W |
| Website | http://www.angeloaktree.com |
The Angel Oak is a very old and famous tree located on Johns Island near Charleston, South Carolina. It is a type of tree called a Southern live oak. Experts believe this amazing tree is between 400 and 500 years old!
The Angel Oak is super tall, standing about 66.5 feet (20 meters) high. Its trunk is also very wide, measuring 28 feet (8.5 meters) around. The tree's branches spread out incredibly far, creating a huge shady area that covers about 17,200 square feet (1,600 square meters). One of its longest branches stretches out 187 feet! The Angel Oak was the 210th tree to be officially listed by the Live Oak Society.
About the Angel Oak
The Angel Oak got its name from the Angel family, who used to own the land where the tree grows. Local stories say that sometimes, people feel a special, peaceful presence around the tree, like angels.
Some people think the Angel Oak is the oldest tree east of the Mississippi River. However, there are other trees, like bald cypress trees in North and South Carolina, that are even older. For example, one bald cypress tree is over 1,600 years old!
History of the Tree
The Angel Oak has faced some tough times. In 1989, a very strong storm called Hurricane Hugo caused a lot of damage to the tree. But the Angel Oak is a survivor! It has recovered well since then. The city of Charleston has owned the tree and the park around it since 1991, making sure it is protected.
Over the years, there have been plans to build new buildings close to the Angel Oak. In 2012, some groups and people who cared about the tree worked hard to protect the land around it. They were worried that new construction might harm the tree by affecting its water supply. By 2013, a group called the Lowcountry Land Trust was able to buy 17 acres of land next to the Angel Oak. This important step helped protect the area from being developed.
The Angel Oak is so famous that it has even appeared in a book called The Heart of A Child by Emily Nelson. It was also featured in a TV advertisement for Allstate in 2018. This ad honored the strength of the Carolinas after Hurricane Florence, another big hurricane.
See Also
- List of famous trees
