Granit Oak, Protected oak tree in Granit, Bulgaria
Granit Oak is a pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) in Granit village, Stara Zagora Province. It reaches 23.4 m in height, with a trunk 2.38 m in diameter and 7.46 m in girth at waist level. Only its eastern side branches remain alive, supported by a steel structure.
In March 1982, a Pressler drill core showed 1,637 annual rings, placing germination around 345 AD and making the Granit Oak the oldest tree in Bulgaria. It was declared a protected natural monument in 1967 and appeared prominently in the 2010 documentary Live Eternity.
The oak is listed in Bulgaria's Register of Ancient Trees under the name "Stariya dab" (The Old Oak), kept by the Executive Environment Agency. It is the main tourist attraction in the Granit area and appeared prominently in the 2010 documentary Live Eternity.
The tree is located in the rural area near Granit and can be visited during daylight hours for a clear view of its size and structure. The site is best accessed on foot using basic navigation, as it stands in an open landscape.
The tree is listed in Bulgaria's Register of Ancient Trees under the name "Stariya dab" (The Old Oak), kept by the Executive Environment Agency. A steel structure now props up the dry crown, which has shrivelled since the early 2000s; only a few living branches remain. In 2010 it appeared in the documentary Live Eternity.
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