At the church in the square of the city of Santa Maria del Tule in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, there is a unique landmark – Árbol del Tule or The Tree of Tule.
In 2005, its barrel was measured to have a circumference of about 36.2 meters (119 feet) and a diameter of 11.62 meters (38. feet) , slightly larger than the 1982 measurements. The height of the tree is very difficult to measure due to its wide crown, but it is believed to be 35.4 meters (116 feet), having become somewhat lower in recent decades .
The tree is known for having the thickest trunk of any tree in the world. In 2001 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and has been declared a natural monument by the Mexican government.
Access : Coordinates: 17.0465, -96.636111 / The Tree of Tule – Árbol del Tule, located in the town center of Santa María del Tule in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, approximately 9 km (6 mi) east of the city of Oaxaca on the road to Mitla.
Highlights :
- The Tree of Tule- Árbol del Tule is a giant evergreen tree of the taxodium genus with a height of more than 35 m, with the thickest trunk in the world with a circumference of over 36 m and a diameter of 14 m, is 1400-1600 years old, and according to some other hypothesis 6000 years.
- According to legend, The legend of the Zapotecs (Indian people in Mexico) says that the Thule tree was planted 1400 years ago by Pechocha, a priest of the Aztec god of wind.
- The Mexicans call it “ahuehute”, which means “old man from the water,” and the locals even gave the tree the human name.
- To embrace the Thule tree, you need at least 30 people holding hands. The shade from the tree can cover 500 people. The height of the tree is about 40 meters and the weight is 636 tons.
- On the second Monday in October, the city celebrates a holiday in honor of the Thule tree.
Activities : photography, environmental interpretation, landscape observation / Scenic Driving- Auto Touring.
Go next : Oaxaca de Juárez : The capital of the state of Oaxaca , The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
