'Oldest living thing on earth' discovered in Chile

If this tree is 5,484 years old, that means that Otzi the iceman, who is 5,300 years old, was born when this tree was 184 years on the planet already.

Chile never seems to get the respect it deserves for preserving its forests - temperate rainforests, no less, which tend to be felled quite enthusiastically. Some day I'd love to visit the Valdivian temperate rainforests, such a strange and wonderful landscape of ancient species, very old trees, and odd plants. Here in the Pacific Northwest, they cut down almost all the giant Douglas firs, including the largest tree ever reliably measured (the Nooksack Giant). They're still felling 1000+ year old cedars on Vancouver Island...

Whether or not it is 5500 years old or not, we are looking at a living being that has lived hundreds of our lifetimes and that is amazing.

I believe it to be of the utmost importance that preserve all the remaining old-growth forests that are left. It is insane that we don't.

The fact that that tree has been around for most of human civilization is fantastic.

The fact that this has been around since roughly 1000 years before the pyramids is utterly mind blowing. Edit: HOLY Sh*t! I know!! They could be older! I watch documentaries too.. I just made a generalized statement, admiring the age of the tree..

Keep the park closed. Tourism will ruin and destroy it!

Patagonia is beautiful beyond belief.

I've visited this park twice, everytime I got to see the "abuelo" it's just magnificent. The tree is so big and wonderfull. Speechless.

When I was little, we spent a lot of time on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains here in Alberta, Canada. I used to avoid walking on the pine trees roots as I decided that they were the trees feet and that I, personally, wouldn’t want someone coming into my home to step on my feet lol To this day, I STILL walk around these big ol’ exposed roots within the forest. Funny how some things can stick with ya when ya get older. I would love to meet old G’pa in Chile. Imagine the stories he could tell if ya just shut up long enough to listen.

I remember these forests used to be a part of the tropical Antarctica before breaking off from south America. Its actually really cool that you get to see what Antarctica's forests used to look like before freezing.

There’s probably a 6,000 year-old plant out there somewhere.

Put a fence around it and keep the exact location secret. This was done with the Wollomi pines in NSW, Australia, and did protect them from humans.

Chile has some of the world's most beautiful landscapes

This is so cool. I’m taking care of an older tree in my backyard. I recently inherited my parents/grandparents house and I’m in the process of renovating it. I have a tree in my back yard that’s just a baby compared to this. I believe my tree is around 200 or more years old because my house is built where there used to be a forest. Before the civil war (in the US) the land was trimmed down to start expanding the city but my area was left as a private estate with a private “park” attached to it until the land was broken down and sold into individual parcels after the civil war ended. My house is 123 years old and I’m pretty sure the tree was already there before the house was built.

Love how this channel presents information. Great work

It totally agree that protecting the small scraps of ancient forest that remain, compared to historic coverage, around the world is cruical.

Please, just keep the location of this tree secret, and even keep the conservatory closed too to the public. I think by now we have established there are enough greedy machete-wielding madmen roaming about who think nothing of hacking ancient trees up all in the name of profit. Even if it isn't the very oldest tree it deserves to be protected and kept safe from humans who don't see its wonder and majesty and who would rather hack it down to make a piece of furniture.

Trees are so important I love and respect them so much <3 great grandfather is breathtaking thank you for sharing.

I always feel like the trees are staring at me in a good way. When I go for a walk in the trail , I nod my head and say my thanks in respect of the trees. I love trees so much I cried when my husband cut one of my trees in my backyard. They were here before us. If only trees could talk , imagine the stories they would tell. ❤️❤️❤️🌲🌴🏝🌳🎋