Last Tree of Ténéré
The most remote tree in the world survived desertification, but not a drunken truck driver
Category Extraordinary Flora, Ghost Towns
The Ténéré wastelands of northeastern Niger were once populated by a forest of trees. By the 20th century, desertification had wiped out all but one solitary acacia. The Tree of Ténéré, as it came to be called, had no companions for 400 km in every direction. Its roots reached nearly 40 m deep into the sand.
When Michel Lesourd of the Central Service of Saharan Affairs first came upon the tree in 1939, he wrote: "One must see the Tree to believe its existence. What is its secret? How can it still be living in spite of the multitudes of camels which trample at its sides? How at each azalai does not a lost camel eat its leaves and thorns? Why don't the numerous Touareg leading the salt caravans cut its branches to make fires to brew their tea? The only answer is that the tree is taboo and considered as such by the caravaniers. There is a kind of superstition, a tribal order which is always respected. Each year the azalai gather round the Tree before facing the crossing of the Ténéré. The Acacia has become a living lighthouse; it is the first or the last landmark for the azalai leaving Agadez for Bilma, or returning."
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- Address Ténéré, Niger
The sculpture is located at approximately 17°45-²00-³N 10°04-²00-³E.
Comments
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Anonymous
January 12, 2010
1000 miles of desert to the west, 1000 miles of desert to the east, 1000 miles of desert to the north, and 100 miles of desert to the south. And he crashes into the ONE tree in that desert. That is very drunk. -
Anonymous
September 14, 2009
Best. Google Map Thumbnail. Ever.
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Anonymous
August 4, 2009
it seems that there's always an idiot ready to do some sort of harm in the world. how sad...
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Mr. Kiss, the tree was indeed run down, and no longer exists. You are correct, however in saying that some dips*it wrote the previous comment.
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No one ran over the tree. You see, some dip s*it wrote that.
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Anonymous
July 12, 2009
one more reason weed should be legal and alcohol illegal
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"You have to be incredibly drunk and unlucky to run over the only tree in the entire desert" Or very purposeful, drunk or not.
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Anonymous
June 22, 2009
All drunk drivers the world over should be marooned on this spot with "no companions for 400 km in every direction" except maybe another drunk driver who will mercifully run them over.
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Anonymous
June 22, 2009
Accident my ass. He must've done it on purpose. What a bastard.
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"the tree was knocked over by a drunken Libyan truck driver." You have to be incredibly drunk and unlucky to run over the only tree in the entire desert.
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