The Angel Oak, Quercus virginiana, is more than 1,400 years old. It is believed to be the oldest living thing in the U.S. east of the Mississippi River. It's 65 feet tall, has a circumference of almost 26 feet, and provides more than 17,000 square feet of shade.
It grows just outside of Charleston, SC. It is quite a remarkable tree and it really causes one to reflect on the incredible amount of history it has witnessed. Unfortunately, the city feels they need to protect this tree, from vandals I suppose, and have completely encircled the park in a heinous chain-link barbed-wire fence.
Also, in this photo I have cloned out several "crutches" supporting some of the tree's larger limbs as I wanted to show the tree with dignity intact.
Statistics
Place: 5 out of 251 Avg (all users): 6.7635 Avg (commenters): 8.0000 Avg (participants): 6.6702 Avg (non-participants): 6.8440 Views since voting: 4249 Views during voting: 356 Votes: 203 Comments: 42 Favorites: 7 (view)
The mad tree. What a complicated growth and if we look slowly we appreciate its untold beauty. Great capture and great study. Congratulations on your 5th place finish.
Great shot!!!! I'm glad you got to shoot this - it was the first thing I thought of when I read the challenge. I'm living in the Charleston area now and have heard about the tree but have never been. Will you please send me a PM and give me directions.
What a great tree which reminds of Major Oak in Sherwood Forest (Robin Hood's tree as the tourist legend would have it!). You did well to remove all the artificial stuff as it gives a true sense of its majesty without man's intervention.
I absoulutely LOVE this tree and am so jealous that you had such a wonderful specimen to take a photograph of. And you did it very well. It's so wonderful how it completely fills the frame.
This is one of the most amazing trees submitted in this challenge. The background appears a bit cluttered. Otherwise, a perfect photograph. You have my vote...8.
Where is this? I'd like to see this in person. There was a tree in Chico California that used to be similar to this but it gave up the fight! In fact I just thought that this would make a great prop for Gary & his brothers to make another appearance! WOW!
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