• Submit A Nut
Newsletter
KnowledgeNuts
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • Facts
  • Finance
  • Misconceptions
  • Differences
  • Bizarre
  • Other
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Facts
  • Finance
  • Misconceptions
  • Differences
  • Bizarre
  • Other
No Result
View All Result
KnowledgeNuts
No Result
View All Result
Home Facts

A Drunk Driver Killed The Most Isolated Tree In The World

A Drunk Driver Killed The Most Isolated Tree In The World
318
SHARES
2.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
“The Tree is still alive, but it is seriously menaced. How long can it survive?” —Raymond Mauny

In A Nutshell

For hundreds of years, the Tree of Ténéré in the Sahara Desert was considered the world’s most isolated tree and was revered as sacred. It stood alone among miles and miles of sand; the closest tree was 400 kilometers (250 mi) away. Yet somehow, even with all that open space, in 1973, a drunken truck driver hit and killed the tree.

The Whole Bushel

Related articles

From Loans to Lifestyle: How Bad Credit Can Impact Your Life

Gender and Finances: The Averages in Bank Account Balances

September 14, 2023
Student Financial Aid Beyond Loans

Affordable Student Housing: Your Handbook

September 14, 2023

The Ténéré region of northeast Niger was once a luscious expanse of foliage. So when the Ténéré tree was born more than 300 years ago, it held no special distinction. But the growing Sahara was beginning to advance into the region, and the Ténéré became drier and drier. The water reservoirs beneath the surface were receding, and only the trees with the longest roots were able to survive. However, the tree of Ténéré, an acacia, had now grown quite large, with roots stretching more than 30 meters (100 ft) down into the irrigated soil. As the water further receded, the number of trees diminished rather quickly. By the early 20th century, a few other acacias had managed to sink their roots just far enough to reach the water beneath. But soon, only the tree of Ténéré had long enough roots to drink of the distant water. All other vegetation disappeared, and the tree suddenly stood solitary in the vastness and isolation of the desert; the next tree was 400 kilometers (250 mi) away.

As years went by, traveling caravans shipping commodities to and from Africa stumbled upon the seemingly impossible tree. They marveled at it, and sanctified it as a miracle tree of God. Soon thereafter, a few more rational travelers realized that the existence of the tree should be attributed not to a miracle but to water deep underground. And so, the French (in control of the area at the time) commissioned the building of a well nearby for use by France’s military. As the only visible marker in the entire landscape, the tree and its accompanying well became essential to travelers for navigation and water. It was featured as one of only two trees (the other being Arbre Perdu or “Lost Tree” to the north) on a map at a scale of 1:4,000,000.

ADVERTISEMENT

When Michel Lesourd of the Central Service of Saharan Affairs beheld the tree in 1939, he remarked: “One must see the Tree to believe its existence. What is its secret? How can it still be living in spite of the multitudes of camels, which trample at its sides? . . . Each year, the Azalai gather round the Tree before facing the crossing of the Ténéré. The Acacia has become a living lighthouse; it is the first or the last landmark for the Azalai leaving Agadez for Bilma, or returning.” For decades more, the tree continued to serve fellow traders and pilgrims with guidance and sustenance. Yet, as society rapidly mechanized and trucks replaced camels, the tree of Ténéré became more of a pit stop to grab a quick drink than an essential way station.

Article Continued Below

On a fateful day in 1973, a Libyan truck driver must have figured that getting a little inebriated before a long, boring drive across the barren desert could do no harm. Must one really be in his most alert state of mind as he drives through an empty patch of nothingness? Despite the fact that the answer to that question is overwhelmingly “yes,” the driver embarked on his trip, driving a relatively straight path until he veered off the makeshift road. In the face of astronomical odds, he slammed into the tree of Ténéré and decapitated the tree from its roots. It was literally the only standing object for hundreds of miles in any direction. On November 8, 1973, the dead tree was transported to the Niger National Museum in the capital Niamey.

Later that year, an anonymous artist erected a monument to commemorate the tree’s existence. Made from recycled pipes, oil barrels, and discarded auto parts, perhaps it symbolized the destruction of the natural world by means of a careless, mechanized society. Regardless, it serves as a reminder of the legendary tree of Ténéré whose majestic limbs astounded, comforted, and guided travelers for many years.

Show Me The Proof

L’Arbre du Ténéré: Part 1 and Part 2
The Lonely Tree of Ténéré

Post Views: 3,255
Share127Tweet79
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

From Loans to Lifestyle: How Bad Credit Can Impact Your Life

Gender and Finances: The Averages in Bank Account Balances

by Knowledge Nuts
September 14, 2023
0

  Managing money can be a daunting task, regardless of who you are. Did you know that there is often...

Student Financial Aid Beyond Loans

Affordable Student Housing: Your Handbook

by Knowledge Nuts
September 14, 2023
0

Finding affordable student housing can be a daunting task for many. The "Affordable Student Housing: Your Handbook" is here to...

Your Mortgage Hack for Financial Freedom

Your Mortgage Hack for Financial Freedom

by Knowledge Nuts
September 8, 2023
0

Mortgage payments can feel like a burden that lasts forever. Did you know however, that it's possible to pay down...

An Easy Financial Aid Roadmap for College Funding

An Easy Financial Aid Roadmap for College Funding

by Knowledge Nuts
August 10, 2023
0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1266t2ee7CY Heading to college is exciting, but figuring out how to fund it can be overwhelming. With "NavigatingFinancial Aid: Your...

Medicare’s Grocery Allowance: How to Know if You Qualify

Medicare’s Grocery Allowance: How to Know if You Qualify

by Lauren Ashley
July 18, 2023
0

If you're on Medicare, did you know there could be extra monthly money in your pocket? It's true! You may...

Load More
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

Nurturing Financial Smarts in Children: 5 Key Tips

Nurturing Financial Smarts in Children: 5 Key Tips

September 21, 2023
Discover the 10 Must-Read Books for Saving and Investing

Discover the 10 Must-Read Books for Saving and Investing

September 20, 2023
Budget-Friendly Meals for Single Parents

Budget-Friendly Meals for Single Parents

September 20, 2023

KnowledgeNuts.com: Your go-to source for insightful information and financial guidance. Explore, learn, and empower your future with us.

Categories
  • Artist
  • Artwork
  • Attitude
  • Bizarre
  • Business
  • Creative Insight
  • Design
  • Differences
  • Facts
  • Finance
  • Forgotten
  • Forgotten Horrors
  • Innovation
  • Inspiration
  • Learning
  • Listicles
  • Market
  • Misconceptions
  • Other
  • Personal Finance Tips
  • Places
  • Thinking
  • Uncategorized
Tags
aid bad credit Business car insurance cash flow credit debt difference disability Education family Finance finances Financial Aid food government assistance Health healthcare help history home home loans housing how to make money how to save insurance Invest Japan jobs loan loans make money Misconceptions Money myths personal finance quick cash saving money savings side hustle side hustles student student aid Superstitions taxes
Newsletter
[mc4wp_form]
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Mobile Privacy Policy
  • Mobile Terms & Conditions
  • SMS Opt-in

© KnowledgeNuts.com – A Division of Media Comms Networking.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Facts
  • Misconceptions
  • Differences
  • Finance
  • Bizarre

© 2023 KnowledgeNuts.com