Miracle Pine Tree, Memorial pine tree in Rikuzentakata, Japan
The Miracle Pine Tree stands in Takatamatsubara Memorial Park and reaches 27.5 meters in height. Its trunk rests on a metal frame that preserves the original stance of the tree.
A pine grove planted in 1839 lined the coast until the 2011 wave swept through. One tree remained standing but died from salt damage in 2012 and was then preserved as a monument.
Residents named the tree Kiseki no Ippon Matsu after witnessing it stand alone amid the destruction. A bronze plaque at the base recalls the 70,000 trees that vanished in the wave.
Buses from Kesennuma Station reach the park in around 30 minutes, or drivers can use the parking area nearby. The site lies on flat ground and allows a walk around without difficulty.
The original trunk was stabilized with resin and wrapped in carbon fiber before being mounted on the internal metal skeleton. Specialists worked for over a year on the conservation to keep the bark's form and color as natural as possible.
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