Learning about this strange spot brought to me feelings of sadness :(. This is the Last Tree of Tenere located in the Sahara Desert of Niger Africa. The tree was the last of a group of trees when Tenere region was not totally deserts and plant life did exist. The tree existed for decades and endured desertification of Northern Niger. This Acacia tree has extremely long roots, and was able to reach the water table of 110 feet below.. the secret to it's solitary survival! The tree survived for decades all alone in the desert of Northern Niger. Not a single tree within 250 miles in direction around this tree survived. In 1939, Michel Lesourd of Sarahan Affairs came upon the tree, he wrote, "One must see the tree to believe it's existence. What is the secret? How can it be alive in spite of the multitude of camels which trample at it's sides? How at each azalai does not a lost camel eat it's leaves and thorns? Why don't the numerous Touregs leading the salt caravans cut it's branches to make fires to brew their tea? The only answer is the tree is taboo and considered such by the caravaniers. There is a kind of superstition, a tribal order which is always respected. Each year the azalai gather round the tree before facing the crossing of the Tenere. The Acacia has become a living lighthouse; it is the first or the last landmark for the azalai leaving Agadez for Belma, or returning". Are you ready for the sad part? In the year of 1973 a drunk driver struck the tree knocking to the sand. It didn't survive :(. The government of Niger placed a simple steel tree-like structure in honor or the Last Tree of Tenere. Sad :(.
1939
Shortly after destruction.
standing in it's place
No comments:
Post a Comment