Osenieku Oak is an enormous, comparatively healthy-looking oak tree of enormous size.

The circumference of the tree is 8.38 m (May 2017). In July 1994 the tree had a circumference of 7.53 m – thus, it increases in size fairly quickly.

References

1. Ošenieku ozols, Dziedava.lv. Accessed on December 24, 2022.

Osenieku Oak is included in the following list:

Griku Oak is a large oak tree near Zaube River. The circumference of this tree is 8.4 m.

The tree is in a bad shape – many branches are lost and most of the branches are dead. It stands in a forest and can not be observed from a distance. Near it is another fairly large oak.

References

1. Griķu ozols, Dziedava.lv. Accessed on December 24, 2022.

Griku Oak is included in the following list:

Vilcinu Oak grows at the house in the Vilcini farmstead on a steep bank of a small ravine.

This beautiful tree has a trunk circumference of 8.45 m at a height of 1.3 m (July 2017). It has a large scar from lightning and the oak has lost part of its crown.

References

1. Vilciņu ozols, Dziedava.lv. Accessed on December 24, 2022.

Vilcinu Oak is included in the following list:

Staisu Oak is a large oak tree in a comparatively good state and we can hope that in the future it will be one of the largest trees in the region.

The circumference of its trunk at the height of 1.3 m in July 2018 was 8.47 m. Former measurements from the 1980ies and 1990ies were below 8 m: even 7.3 m, thus the tree increases in size.

This is a gorgeous, very impressive tree. Images can not convey the feelings that overwhelm when one sees the tree in real life. To a large part the impression is created also by a walk through a forest with “normal” trees – through the trees can be caught a glimpse of a giant trunk and then… yes – it exists, a giant tree from fairy tale books!

References

1. Diži koki. Staišu ozols, Dziedava.lv. Accessed on December 24, 2022.

Staisu Oak is included in the following list:

Most likely, Upatu Oak is nearing the end of its life. This beautiful tree has lost its top and many branches.

The circumference of the tree gradually increased: in 2005 it was 8.6 m but in January 2020 – 8.84 m.

References

1. Upatu ozols, Dziedava.lv. Accessed on December 23, 2022.

Upatu Oak is included in the following list:

This gorgeous oak tree has an incredibly massive trunk that maintains its girth up to the height of some 5 meters.

Contrary to, for example, Dambji Oak, this tree seems to have stopped its growth. Over the last decades, its circumference almost did not change.

Sejas Oak has two lightning scars, and, sadly, it has suffered also in World War I and World War II – there are pieces of shrapnel and bullets in it.

It is possible that the oak was planted by the landowner Johan Seyge in 1567. The tree is surrounded by English-style park and to the east of it are the ruins of a Neo-Gothic Sejas manor house. Most likely, the place name ‘Sēja’ originates from the family name of Seyge.

References

1. Sējas ozols, Dziedava.lv. Accessed on December 21, 2022.
2. Sējas dižozols, website of Saulkrasti municipality. Accessed on December 21, 2022.

Sejas Oak is included in the following list:

Dambju Oak stands on the steep bank of a small stream that falls into the nearby Burtnieki Lake. The root system of the tree is incredible – the walk around it feels almost like a small hike and takes some time. If one would measure its girth at the ground level, it would exceed 20 m.

It is possible that the constant fight with gravity at the steep bank causes fast growth of the tree trunk. For example, in 2002 the circumference was 8.6 m – both measurements were made by the same expert (Ansis Opmanis) in 2002 and 2018. It will be interesting to see the further increase of this tree giant.

The tree is located in a picturesque, legendary area.

References

1. Dambju ozols, Dziedava.lv. Accessed on December 21, 2022.

Dambju Oak is included in the following list:

Rigzemju Oak is a very impressive oak near the rim of the Slītere virgin forest.

The tree has a hollow that is visible through a narrow slit and also a lightning scar. Also, the top of the tree is lost.

Protected natural monument since 1977.

Nearby are two more large oak trees.

References

1. Rīgzemju ozols, Dziedava.lv. Accessed on December 21, 2022.

Rigzemju Oak is included in the following list:

Kanepu Oak is a well-known noble tree next to a farmstead, near Jērcēni village. This tree was selected as the most magnificent oak tree of Latvia in the competition of the then-popular magazine “Atpūta” in 1933. Protected natural monument since 1977.

Kanepu Oak is the second largest oak tree in Latvia by circumference after Kaive Oak.

The tree, most likely, was hit by lightning long ago and a large hollow, where, reportedly 8 people can enter, has developed. This hollow has openings on three sides. The northern part of the trunk is dead now, while the southern part continues to grow.

The approximate height of the tree is 16-17 m.

Next to Kanepu Oak in the ground was found a set of smaller stones and ashes. There is a possibility that the tree served as a paganic shrine in the past. Nevertheless, there are no known stories about this possible shrine.

References

1. Diži koki. Kaņepu ozols, Dziedava.lv. Accessed on December 20, 2022.

Kanepu Oak is included in the following list:

Quest for noble trees

Searching for noble trees (large trees which exceed certain size limits and thus are protected by the state) by many in Latvia is seen as a good pass time during the weekends. Thousands of such trees have been registered and the largest ones are marked and mentioned in tourist guidebooks.

Thickest trees in Latvia are oaks (Quercus robur) although there is fierce competition with willow trees. Several oak trees exceed the circumference of 9 meters: Kanepu Oak has a circumference of 9.82 m, Rigzemju Oak – 9.64 m, Dambju Oak – 9.48 m, and the magnificent Sejas Oak – 9.15 m.

Nevertheless, only one oak tree in the Baltics exceeds the circumference of 10 m – this is Kaive Oak in Western Latvia.

Still growing

This oak tree grows near the center of the village, among farmsteads and, of course, locals knew well about this giant tree.

The quest for the largest tree in Latvia became trendy during the 20th century and, of course, Kaive Oak was known as one of the largest ones. Around 1940 its circumference was some 8 meters but the first known exact measurement was made in 1974 when the girth was 9.35 m. Since then the tree was grown in thickness: by 1990 it exceeded 10 meters and on 31st December 2019 there was reported a circumference of 10.55 m. All measurements have been made at the height of 1.3 m.

Description

Kaive oak grows in a picturesque meadow among orchards. From the distance, the tree does not seem to be very large – and it is low indeed, just some 18 m high. Its summit was chopped by a flash of lightning in the 1920ies and several large branches broke in 1990.

Since then this tree has been tended well and with love: the largest branches are supported and the enormous hollow is covered with a fine roof.

The age of the tree cannot be determined. Some oaks in Latvia have reached giant size over one century while others never grow to large size: thus the size of the trunk does not tell too much about the age of the tree.

Kaive Oak is a local tourist destination and people often leave small offerings – coins, fine webbings, or just colored rags. Small car parking is near the oak and a trail leads towards it.

Although sometimes it is considered that this was a sacred tree for local paganic cults, there is no evidence to support this. Nevertheless, it might be true: there are rather many trees in Latvia that have served as paganic shrines.

References

1. Diži koki. Kaives dižozols, Dziedava.lv. Accessed on December 20, 2022.

Kaive Oak is included in the following list: