7 impressive trees around the World

Whether you are a fan of forest bathing or simply harbor a desire to get back to nature, there are many associated benefits of being in the forest – not least the chance to see beautiful natural wonders, like the selection of impressive trees around the world that we feature here.

Business Optimizer has written about the benefits of being in the forest many times before. From the benefits of the Japanese craze for shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, to the many good reasons to take your work outside – including improved concentration, greater creativity, feeling happier, lowered stress levels and reduced stress.

In this article, we take a look at some more great reasons to head to the forest: some quite amazingly impressive trees located around the world.

#1. Cherry blossoms in Japan

A huge tourist industry has blossomed around Japan’s famous cherry trees. The noble Sakura bursts into color between mid-March and early May, symbolizing the transience of experience and drawing people from around the world to enjoy the springtime blooms. When you visit will determine where to visit: the earliest Sakura appears in tropical Okinawa in January, the last on the northernmost island of Hokkaido in early May.

Find out more here

#2. Europe’s tallest tree

The tallest tree in Europe actually hails from Australia! Karri Knight is a Eucalyptus located in Vale de Canas, Coimbra in Portugal. It is thought to have been planted around 1895. When it was last measured for the University of Coimbra in 2015, it stood at 72.9 meters.

Read about the expedition to measure its height here.

#3. A legendary tree of folklore

The Major Oak in England’s Sherwood Forest is the stuff of legend. Reputedly the hideout for folk hero Robin Hood and his band of merry men, the major oak is said to be located in parkland in Nottinghamshire. Whilst no one knows the tree’s exact age, it is thought to have been standing for somewhere around 800 – 1,100 years.

Find out more here: https://www.visitsherwood.co.uk/things-to-do/the-major-oak/

#4. The stoutest tree in the world

In the rural south-west province of Oaxaca, Mexico, El Arból del Tule stands magnificently in a quiet churchyard just outside the city of Santa María del Tule. It’s a popular tourist stop-off point between Oaxaca City and the beautiful waterfalls and travertine rock formations of Hierve el Agua. According to local Zapotec legend, the enormous Montezuma Cypress was planted 1,400 years ago by Pechocha, a priest of the god that the Aztec wind god Ehecatl. Science seems to agree with the timeline but hasn’t yet attest to the involvement of Pechocha.

Read more here

#5. The tallest tree in the world

The mighty redwoods of California are renowned as being the tallest trees in the world. Millions of tourists visit each year to admire their lofty branches swaying high above the Pacific coast fog. The sequoia sempervirens trees can easily reach heights of 91 meters and the tallest of them all is a giant called Hyperion. Discovered in 2006, it stands an impressive 115.7 m tall.

Discover the tallest redwoods in California here

#6. The tallest tropical plant

In 2019, a team of researchers exploring the forests of Malaysia announced that they had found a 100.8-meter giant yellow meranti tree. The team had repeatedly discovered many lofty shorea faguetiana growing in the forests of Sabah state on the island of Borneo, but the latest discovery eclipses them all. It is the first 100-meter tropical tree and the world’s tallest known flowering plant recorded anywhere in the world. The team named the tree “Menara,” which is Malaysian for tower.

Read more about their discoveries here

#7. European tree of the year 2021

Each year, the European Partnership Association holds a competition to find “tree of the year”. Intended to raise awareness about international communities’ natural heritage, the competition focuses on local folklore as well as the beauty of the tree itself. The 2021 winner can be found in Lecina, Aragón, Spain. The holm oak is thought to have been a focal point for the witches that once lived in the nearby Guara Mountains who would dance around it in celebration.

Find out more about the 2021 European tree of the year and other commended nominations here

Need more inspiration?

Read about the outdoor escapes of successful people during lockdown.

Recap which tree won the 2020 title of European tree of the year.

Or download a forest-themed coloring sheet and recreate the peace of the forest at home.