TEHRAN – At the age of almost five millennia, Sarv-e Abarkuh is a solid, tall tree still covering itself with glory, reaching 25 meters in height, 11.5 meters in width of its trunk, and 18 meters in circumference.

Although it doesn’t have the height or size of record-setting redwoods and sequoias standing near California, this Persian cypress has long been a tourist destination in central Iran for those who love to visit one of the oldest living creatures on Earth. It is a real blessing that this being has lived all this time to become a source of enjoyment for modern humans.

The colossal cypress has unique features by which it is distinguished. The tree has worldwide popularity, a magnificent tree that surprises all visitors with its glory. In addition to local travelers, the cypress has been visited by many scientists and researchers from across the globe as well.

Local legends state that this tree has a puzzling and mysterious soul that has been living for thousands of years. In olden Iranian accounts, the origin of this cypress is credited to Japheth, the child of Noah, while others believe Zoroaster, the Iranian prophet, had planted Sarv-e Abarkuh.

From the scientific point of view, the majority of the experts believe that Sarv-e Abarkuh is between 4,000 and 5,000 years old though some others have estimated its existence to reach 8,000 years.

Local legends state that this tree has a puzzling and mysterious soul that is living for thousands of years. When it comes to conservation and protection, it is obvious that naturally, all ancient and historical landmarks need care and protection, just like the case with Sarv-e Abarkuh, and several activities have been done to protect the straight and heavy Cypress.

It is worth mentioning that the tree’s environment has changed these days. For instance, there were loads of pomegranate trees surrounding it in the past. Nowadays, with the expansion of cities and tourist and vehicle traffic, the tree’s territory seems to be in a greater need to be secured.

The cypress enjoys encircling fences. This way, visitors shouldn’t approach or touch it as when the soil hardened due to their footsteps, it won’t have a chance to absorb water, and it will also alter micro-organisms.

Cypresses usually have been the first preferred tree for Iranian gardens. In all the famous Persian gardens, this kind of tree plays a significant role in their design. In ancient Iran, planting a tree had great importance, as it shows in old paintings and monuments such as Achaemenian carvings in Persepolis. Cypress is noticed in many related symbols and old Persian poetry. It can also be seen as a symbol of life and beauty in some Achaemenian sculptures.

Sarv-e AbarKuh is protected by the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Ministry of Iran as a national natural monument. The ministry has long taken some steps, like killing insects, to guarantee that the tree keeps on living for the upcoming years. Some other moves have also been made to protect the tree, including keeping it away from pests and insect harm, checking the issues related to visiting and tourism necessities, natural enclosures around the tree under current conditions to decrease tree’s damage, utilizing a trained workforce to protect this national monument, and providing lightning protection.

The giant Persian cypress is named after its ancient location, the town of Abarkuh in Yazd province. Abarkuh itself is a delightful place to stay located on the once crossroads of the Silk Road and has many excellent houses and antiquity of over 4000 years. While in Abarkuh, one finds countless tourist attractions and peaceful natural sites, by visiting them, travelers may collect much more memories from their adventures.

Yazd is usually referred to as a “don't miss” destination by almost all of its visitors. The city is full of mudbrick houses that are equipped with innovative badgirs (wind catchers), atmospheric alleyways, and many Islamic and Iranian monuments that shape its eye-catching city landscape.

It is a living testimony to the intelligent use of limited available resources in the desert for survival. Water is brought to the city by the qanat system. Each district of the city is built on a qanat and has a communal center. Houses are built with courtyards below ground level, serving underground areas. Wind-catchers, courtyards, and thick earthen walls create a pleasant microclimate.

In conclusion, many believe the amazing lifespan of the cypress has been credited to the favorable conditions of its location which has partially escaped the modernization trends.

AFM