Where to Find the Oldest Living Things in the World

All over the world, you can find ancient organisms that have existed for thousands, sometimes even millions, of years: living testaments of endurance and adaptation amidst changing climates and environmental degradation. Many of these organisms are trees—especially, massive, hulking ones whose branches burrow deep and widespread under the Earth. Others are clonal colonies: intricately designed natural systems in which an organism copies itself ad infinitum.

There are also the fungi, whose decentralized, underground networks stretch perpetually outward, and the deep-sea creatures whose murky residences protect them from decay. These organisms offer a fascinating portrait of life itself—reminders that we humans are but a blip in the history of this big, beautiful planet. From a small, mountain-top tree with a mighty long history to a towering yew that’s been worshiped by multiple faiths, these archaic lifeforms are time capsules as mysterious as they are beautiful.

Some record-holders, like Utah’s Pando, are clonal colonies, while others, such as a spruce trunk, are individual, continuously growing organisms whose age is counted directly through rings, layers, or growth bands. Still others, like deep-sea sponges, grow so slowly that their age can only be estimated. Understanding which kind of “old” you’re looking at helps explain why the ages on this list vary so widely. | **Living thing** | **Type** | **Estimated age** | **Location** | | Pando | Clonal quaking aspen colony | 1+ million years | Utah, USA | | Honey Mushrooms | Fungal network | 2,400 years | Oregon, USA | | King Clone | Creosote colony | 11,700 years | California, USA | | Methuselah Tree | Bristlecone pine | ~4,800 years | California, USA | | Prometheus | Bristlecone pine | ~5,000 years | Nevada, USA | | Li Jiawan Grand Ginkgo King | Ginkgo | ~4,000 years | China | An Explorer's Guide to the Hidden Wonders of the United States Introducing Our Newest Book: _America Obscura_.

Available Nov 10, 2026 Fall is a popular time to visit Pando, as the trees turn a vibrant yellow. J Zapell/Public Domain This grove in Utah’s Fishlake National Forest consists of 47,000 genetically identical quaking aspens, all of them sharing a single root system. Unlike many other trees, quaking aspens reproduce asexually by sprouting new stem’s from the parent’s lateral root.

The grove’s nickname, Pando, is Latin for “I spread.” A daily dose of hidden gems to visit, extraordinary places to eat and wondrous stories from around the world. Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. At 107 acres and 6,615 tons, Pando is one of the world’s largest living organisms.

It’s also one of the oldest at over one million years old. When the thousands of quaking aspens’ leaves rustle in the wind, it produces a completely singular sound, furthering this ancient giant’s strange and astounding beauty. Fungus infestation was first investigated in Malheur National Forest in 1988.