It holds bristlecone pines more than 4,800 years old, among the oldest individual organisms documented on the planet
Area
312 km²
Protection category
IUCN II
Parque nacional —
Designated in
1986
Declared in 1986, it protects a mountain island of forest and high summit in the middle of the Great Basin desert, celebrated for its bristlecone pines, some of them dated at more than 4,800 years old, among the oldest non-clonal individual organisms ever documented on the planet. One of these trees, nicknamed "Prometheus", was accidentally felled by a researcher in 1964 for study, without his knowing at the time that it was probably the oldest known individual living thing on Earth.
Location
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Great Basin: 27 documented species
Mammals12Birds11Reptiles2Insecta
Flora and ecosystems
Ecosystems found in the United States, where Great Basin lies.
DesertTemperate forestTundra / polarWetland
Experiences in this park
Birdwatching
Wildlife you can see now
What is worth looking out for this month in the United States?
Now is a good time: Urban bat colony under Congress Avenue Bridge (March to November (peak in summer))
Similar parks
Which other parks are like this one?
Same country: United States
Same country: United States
Same country: United States
Same country: United States
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about this park.
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