Santa Maria del Tule, Mexico

Travel Blog  •  Ben Keene  •  04.21.06 | 11:02 AM ET

Coordinates: 17 2 N 96 37 W
Weight of tree: 636 tons
imageSpeaking about Earth Day, the grassroots initiative he started on April 22, 1970, former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson remarked: “The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.” Mi Amigo el Arbol, one example of an environmental group that shares this perspective, devotes itself to protecting Mexico’s most famous tree. Arguably the largest single biomass on the planet, the giant cypress known as the Arbol de Tule has been a constant presence for generations in the Oaxacan town of Santa Maria del Tule. It’s estimated to be over 2,000 years old. The tree’s health is now threatened by the strain human activity places on the aquifer beneath its ancient roots. Tomorrow marks the 36th anniversary of Earth Day.

—.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) is the editor of the Oxford Atlas of the World.