This 5000-year-old tree is the oldest in the world, here's why you'll never find it

It has seen it all, lived it all, and has even inspired the invention of the expression 'Old as Methuselah'! The Methuselah tree has surpassed the overwhelming majority of living beings on Earth in terms of age. Born almost 5000-years-ago, here's all you need to know about this legendary tree.

A tree that is close to 5000 years old

4789 years—that is the estimated age of the widely popular Methuselah tree! The world has changed massively ever since the birth of the tree. To give you an idea of how old it is, here are a few periodical references: the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889, the Notre-Dame cathedral in 1163 and the pyramids of Egypt about 2700 years before Christ!

They even surpassed the Ming Mollusc, which is a 500-year-old type of clam that is known for living long years, according to National Geographic. It can be said that Methuselah is the oldest of the ancients.

A place kept secret

But where exactly is Methuselah? Can we see it, touch it, admire it? The place where Methuselah is located is kept relatively secret. This Bristlecone pine is said to be rooted in California, in a cold, dry and windy mountainous region, located at an altitude of 3000 meters (which makes its longevity even more impressive).

Authorities refuse to say exactly where it is, and even photographers are begging reporters and other bloggers to sensor their photos so that their grove cannot be identified. In a blog post, the U.S. Department of Agriculture explained:

To protect the oldest of all living things from vandalism, Methuselah's precise location is not being disclosed.

This article was translated from Gentside FR.

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