Colombia's Largest Tree Is So Big in Diameter, It Has Grown Pillars to Support Its Branches

What’s the biggest tree in the world? General Sherman is certainly at the top of contenders, but then look at this. In the depths of Colombia’s Caribbean region, there is a tree some mistakenly call ‘The Tree of Guacarí’, which was another enormous tree in the same area, rather similar in looks to the tree we are presenting now. That tree, otherwise called the Samán of Guacarí, used to feature on Colombian 500 peso coins in the 90s.

The branches bend to kiss the ground – and give shelter to a peacock. So the 'Giant Fig of San Marcos' is not just one, but six different plants that were joined and strengthened by aerial roots with which they formed supports on the ground. Image credit: Wbeimar Muñoz Gonzàlez