Methuselah, Ancient pine tree in White Mountains, United States.
Methuselah is a Great Basin bristlecone pine growing at around 10,000 feet (3,000 m) elevation in the White Mountains of California, in a landscape of bare dolomite rock and scattered trees. The trunk is gnarled and partially stripped of bark, with short tufts of needles on the remaining living branches.
Tree ring dating revealed that this pine germinated roughly 4,800 years ago. Researchers discovered its age in the 1950s during systematic surveys of bristlecone pines in the region.
The tree received its name from the biblical figure Methuselah, connecting natural history with religious narratives through the theme of extraordinary longevity.
The exact location is not disclosed to protect the tree from damage. Visitors can walk along the loop trail through the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, where several very old trees grow, without knowing which one is Methuselah.
For several years this tree was considered the oldest living organism on Earth. Later, researchers found an even older bristlecone pine in the same area, whose location also remains undisclosed.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
