Tāne Mahuta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tane Mahuta |
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Tāne Mahuta, the biggest kauri tree alive, in the Waipoua Forest of Northland Region, New Zealand
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 Tane Mahuta
Location in New Zealand
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| Species | Kauri (Agathis australis) |
| Coordinates | 35°36′04″S 173°31′38″E / 35.60111°S 173.52722°E |
| Height | 45.2 m (148 ft) |
| Girth | 15.44 m (50.7 ft) |
| Volume of trunk | 255.5 m3 (9,020 cu ft) |
| Date seeded | 500 BC – 750 AD |
Tāne Mahuta, also called God of the Forest, is a giant kauri tree (Agathis australis) in the Waipoua Forest of Northland Region, New Zealand. Its age is unknown but is estimated to be between 1,250 and 2,500 years. It is the largest kauri known to stand today. It is named for the Māori god of forests and of birds (see Tāne).
The tree is a remnant of the ancient subtropical rainforest that once grew on the North Auckland Peninsula. Other giant kauri are found nearby, notably Te Matua Ngahere. Tāne Mahuta is the most famous tree in New Zealand, along with Te Matua Ngahere. It was discovered and identified in early January 1924 when contractors surveyed the present State Highway 12 route through the forest. In 1928 Nicholas Yakas and other bushmen, who were building the road, also identified the tree.
In April 2009, Tāne Mahuta was partnered with the tree Jōmon Sugi on Yakushima Island, Japan.
During the New Zealand drought of 2013, 10,000 litres of water from a nearby stream was diverted to Tāne Mahuta, which was showing signs of dehydration.
In 2018, the tree was considered threatened by kauri dieback, a generally fatal disease which has already infected nearby kauri trees. New Zealand's Department of Conservation initiated a plan to protect and save the tree from kauri dieback.
Measurements
| Tree girth | 15.44 m (50.7 ft) |
| Trunk height | 17.8 m (58 ft) |
| Tree height | 45.2 m (148 ft) |
| Trunk volume | 255.5 m3 (9,020 cu ft) |
| Tree volume | 516.7 m3 (18,250 cu ft) |
The measurements above were taken in 2002 by Dr. Robert Van Pelt, a forest ecology researcher and affiliate assistant professor at the University of Washington. Former measurements taken in 1971 by the New Zealand Forestry Service may be found on The New Zealand Tree Register.
See also
In Spanish: Tāne Mahuta para niños
