The Dorsland tree, also known as the Dorsland Baobab and the Dorsland Grootboom (Afrikaans: Large Thirstland Tree), is a baobab tree in Namibia which is found to the south of the Khaudum National Park. At around 2,100 years old, it is believed to be the oldest tree in the country. It is 14.3 m (47 ft) high, has a circumference of more than 30 m (98 ft) and keeps growing despite having fallen over.[1] In 2006, two of its oldest relatives died. The previous oldest tree in the country, known as Grootboom, was 32 m (105 ft) high,[2] but died in 2005.
The tree was where the Dorsland trekkers camped in 1883[3] and they carved the year of the visit, "1883", into the tree. In 1891 a detachment of German troops passed the tree and carved "1891" and the name of three in the group "H. Gathemann", "E. Heller" and "D. Hannemann" into the tree.[4][5][6]
References
edit- ^ "Dorsland Grootboom (Ancient Baobab Tree)". Tracks4Africa. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Baobabs Natural Feature in Tsumkwe Area Namibia". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Baobab - The King of Trees". Gondwanalink. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ Rupert Watson (12 February 2014). The African Baobab. Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN 9781775841692.
- ^ G.E. Wickens (2 March 2008). The Baobabs: Pachycauls of Africa, Madagascar and Australia. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 467. ISBN 978-1-4020-6431-9.
- ^ Rough Guides (6 July 2017). The Rough Guide to Namibia (Travel Guide eBook). Apa Publications. pp. 452–. ISBN 978-0-241-31933-8.
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