Situated in Utah’s Fishlake National Forest, there’s a giant living wonder called Pando.
This isn’t just any tree—it’s what scientists call the largest single organism on Earth. Known affectionately as “The Trembling Giant,” Pando looks like a forest made up of individual aspen trees, but it’s actually all connected underground by one root system, making up one gigantic living being.
Spanning over 106 acres and weighing around 6,600 tons, Pando is made up of about 47,000 tree trunks. But here’s the catch: they all sprout from one enormous root system. That means each trunk is a clone, genetically identical to its neighbors. Imagine sharing your roots with an entire forest!
Pando is ancient—some estimates say it’s been around for thousands of years, originally considered up to 80,000 years old! More recent study has estimated Pando to be 14,000 years old, making it among the oldest living organisms on the planet. A few scientists believe that it’s far older, with some thinking it has actually been alive for hundreds of thousands of years! Suffice it to say, Pando is old. Very, very old.
Its name, which is Latin for “I spread,” hints at how it grows: by popping up new shoots from its sprawling roots. This unique way of growing keeps Pando resilient and has allowed it to stick around through the ages. Each of the trees are identical clones to one another.
But this majestic tree is facing some tough times. Deer and cattle like to munch on the young shoots, and human activities are cramping its style, making it hard for Pando to grow new parts.
Conservationists are stepping in with fencing and controlled grazing plans to help protect Pando’s young shoots, giving them a chance to mature and keep the organism thriving.
Pando isn’t just a cool natural oddity—it plays a big role in its environment. It helps keep the soil in place, supports local wildlife, and adds to the area’s biodiversity. It’s a symbol of how everything in nature is connected and why we need to take care of it.
Learning about Pando reminds us of our duty to look after our planet’s unique and irreplaceable wonders. Researchers are digging deep into what makes Pando tick, hoping that understanding this giant can help us protect other natural marvels too. Here’s to hoping that with a little help, Pando can continue to thrive for many more generations.
Read more on Friends of Pando.
5 comments
Awesome
That a life-form that large and that old could be living amongst us is nothing short of astounding!
Thank you for this post. It is awe inspiring. Trees are the best.
Agreed! The age and shared root system is astounding.
Incredible!