Biological extremes

General Sherman Tree from a distance

Some biological wonders are the champions of the world – largest, tallest, oldest. This category lists these biological extremes.

Yasuni Forest

The mysterious Yasuni forest, Ecuador

Possibly the most biodiverse area in the world. In this rainforest, the diversity of reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes, birds, mammals, and vascular plants (with 2,700 – 4,000 species of plants per hectare) reaches their maximum for Western Hemisphere and often – world. Uncontacted tribes live in the forest. Endangered and affected by oil extraction.

Arbol del Tule (Árbol del Tule)

Árbol del Tule. Girth - 36.2 m

One of the stoutest trees on Earth, Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum). Girth 36.2 m, diameter 11.62 m, height 35.4 m. Discounting the buttresses of the trunk the diameter – 9.38 m. Volume 750 m³. Age estimated to be 1,400 – 1,600 years. Sacred Zapotec tree.

Vallée de Mai (Vallee de Mai)

Vallée de Mai, Seychelles

Relict of Gondwana, natural palm forest with the endemic coco de mer palm (Lodoicea maldivica) grove and five other endemic palms. Coco de mer grows up to 34 m tall and has the largest seeds in the plant kingdom – up to 42 kg heavy nuts. Many other endemic species of plants and animals, numerous vanilla orchids.

Yungay – the driest place in the world

Landscape near Antofagasta, not too far from Yungay, Chile

The driest place in the world without any signs of life. Only a few specific microorganisms – extremophiles – are present here. Some areas are rich with nitrates – easily soluble minerals that in other circumstances are consumed by organisms. Here rich nitrate deposits have been formed from atmospheric nitrogen, possibly by lightning.

Centurion tree – the tallest eucalyptus

The highest known mountain ash and eucalypt (Eucalyptus regnans F.Muell.) in the world, making this the second tallest tree species in the world. Height 99.8 m, diameter 4.05 m (girth 13.7 m), volume 268 m3. Has been at least 103 m tall but the top is broken. The tree has suffered during the fires in January 2019 but is alive.

Lukunsky Grove

The northernmost grove of trees in the world. It consists of low stands of Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.).

Ary-Mas

Northernmost forest in the world. It consist of low stands of Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.).

Sagole Tree (Sagole Baobab)

Sagole Baobab, South Africa

The largest tree in South Africa. This giant Adansonia digitata has a circumference of 33.72 m and a height – 22 m. The stoutest known baobab (Adansonia digitata) with a circumference of 33.72 m.