China At 102 meters tall, the newly discovered giant cypress tree in a forest in Tibet is much taller than the Statue of Liberty.
The cypress tree holds the record for the tallest in Asia. Photo: Peking University
A Chinese cypress is the tallest tree discovered in Asia. It is also believed to be the second tallest tree in the world , measuring 102 meters (332 feet) tall, surpassing the Statue of Liberty (93 meters). A team of researchers from Peking University discovered the giant cypress in May in the Yarlung Zangpo Gorge Nature Reserve in Bamit County, Linzhi Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, the university announced on June 19. Yarlung Zangpo is the world's deepest gorge, with a maximum depth of 6,009 meters.
Although the species of cypress is unknown, researchers speculate that it could be a Himalayan cypress ( Cupressus torulosa ) or a Tibetan cypress ( Cupressus gigantea ). The giant cypress has a diameter of 2.9 m. Prior to this discovery, the tallest tree in Asia was a 101 m tall yellow meranti ( Shorea faguetiana ) located in the Danum Valley Conservation Area in Sabah, Malaysia.
The Tibet Autonomous Region has a unique ecosystem that is increasingly affected by development and global climate change. However, the area in the Linzhi prefecture has recently been the focus of conservation efforts to protect its flora and fauna. A team from Peking University is recording the region’s tall trees to better understand environmental diversity and aid in ecosystem protection.
In May 2022, researchers found an 83-meter-tall fir tree in southwestern China, initially thinking it was the country’s largest. The team also discovered a 77-meter-tall tree in Motuo County a month earlier. Continuing the survey this year, researchers used drones, lasers, and radar to map the trees in the area and determine their height from the ground.
The giant cypress tree is pictured from root to tip. Photo: Peking University
After several days of field surveys, the cypress tree in Ba Mat district was confirmed to be the tallest tree in Asia. Using drones, 3D laser scanners and LIDAR technology, which uses light beams to measure distances, the research team created a 3D model of the giant tree, providing precise dimensions. The data allowed them to confirm that this is the tallest tree in Asia.
Guo Qinghua, a professor at the Institute of Remote Sensing at Peking University, said the cypress was interesting because its root system was not completely buried underground. It also had a complex branching system, providing an ideal environment and microclimate for a number of endangered plants and animals.
Currently, the tallest tree in the world is a 116 m (370 ft) coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ) in Redwood National Park in California. The tree is estimated to be 600–800 years old and is nicknamed Hyperion after the giant in Greek mythology. It was discovered in 2006.
An Khang (According to Live Science )
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