Visiting the oldest tree in the world

Ever so often we come across some old trees with massive trunks, and stop to think about their age. How old have they been there? How many lives did it touch by giving shelter on a hot day? No one really knows the right answer to such questions regarding unknown trees by the road. But, we do know of one such tree that is considered to be the oldest tree in the world.
The Great Basin Bristlecone is supposedly the oldest non-clonal species in the planet, and is in the Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada.


The tree is shaped in a strange manner, and gives you an idea that it has been through a lot which, of course, it has. Having survived harsh conditions with a short growing season and high winds, the tree has been twisted and yet sits that way today. These conditions led the tree to grow slowly over the years; in a way, the harsh conditions allowed it to be around for so long. Moreover, the Bristlecone pine has dense wood, which saves it from fungus, rotting, and erosion.
The rare species is found in California, Nevada, and Utah. Here, at the Great Basin National Park, you will find three groves of this pine, located in Wheeler Peak, Mount Washington, and the Eagle Peak groves. Amongst the three, the largest grove is on Mount Washington; because of its location, it is hard to access.