Iran to Nominate World’s 2nd Oldest Tree for UNESCO Heritage List: Official


Iran to Nominate World’s 2nd Oldest Tree for UNESCO Heritage List: Official

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) Ali Asghar Mounesan said the country plans to propose recognition of Sarv-e Abarkuh, the world’s second oldest tree in southern Iran, for entry in the UNESCO heritage list.

In remarks released on Sunday, Mounesan said the Sarv-e Abarkuh (Cypress of Abarkuh) could be added as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List.

“During a visit to the 4500-year-old cypress tree of Abarkuh we were convinced to put its registration at UNESCO on the agenda…,” he said.

The Cypress of Abarkuh is a Cupressus sempervirens tree in Abarkuh in Iran’s central province of Yazd. It is protected by the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran as a national natural monument and is indeed a major tourist attraction with a height of 25 meters and with a perimeter of 11.5 meters at its trunk and 18 meters higher up around its branches.

The tree is only 300 years younger than the record-holding old-timer Methuselah, a bristlecone pine tree from California’s White Mountains, which is thought to be over 4,800 years old.

Some legends attribute its origin to Japheth, the son of Noah, while others believe Zoroaster himself planted it.

The amazing point about this tree is that it is still cultivated after all these years. Favorable natural conditions of its location have been credited as the main reason for the tree’s longevity.

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