Where to Find the Oldest Living Things in the World

All over the world, you can find ancient organisms that have existed for thousands, sometimes even millions, of years: living testaments of endurance and adaptation amidst changing climates and environmental degradation. Many of these organisms are trees—especially, massive, hulking ones whose branches burrow deep and widespread under the Earth. Others are clonal colonies: intricately designed natural systems in which an organism copies itself ad infinitum. There are also the fungi, whose decentralized, underground networks stretch perpetually outward, and the deep-sea creatures whose murky residences protect them from decay. These organisms offer a fascinating portrait of life itself—reminders that we humans are but a blip in the history of this big, beautiful planet. From a small, mountain-top tree with a mighty long history to a towering yew that’s been worshiped by multiple faiths, these archaic lifeforms are time capsules as mysterious as they are beautiful. What Are the World’s Oldest Living Things? “Oldest” is not one definitive measurement but several, depending on what type of living thing you’re looking at. Some record-holders, like Utah’s Pando, are clonal colonies, whi…