The Tree of Life or Shajarat-al-Hayat in Bahrain is a remarkable tree. Located 10 km from Askar and some 3.5 km west from Jaww, this 32-feet tall Prosopis cineraria
has been making a seemingly impossible living out of dry sand for
approximately 400 years. There is no apparent source of water and other
vegetation for miles around. The mystery of the survival of the tree has
made it a legend.
Most members of Prosopis genus are native to America and they have a common name - mesquites. Prosopis cineraria
however is native to Asia. These trees are known to adapt extremely
well to dry deserts and thrive in arid conditions, with rainfall as low
as 150mm annually. But they have deep root systems – sometimes going up
to 50 meters down - capable of reaching deep beds of underground water.
The mystery status of the Tree of Life in Bahrain is somewhat
exaggerated. The ground, where the tree grows, is just some 9 - 12 m
above the sea level and groundwater level in this location is higher
than the sea level. Not too far from the tree are seen ponds with water.
The air here often is also humid - and mesquite is well adapted to gain
the moisture from the air as well. Closer inspection of the area shows
other trees nearby. One smaller tree grows some 850 meters to the north
from the Tree of Life.
Local stories tell that Tree of Life was
planted here in 1583. The tree survived up to this day. It looks very
healthy and has fresh, green leaves. It grows on a small sand hill
looking majestic in the harsh desert and is visible from far away.
The
tree is a local tourist attraction, as it is the only major tree
growing in the area. It is visited by approximately 50,000 tourists
every year and the tree often is damaged by graffiti carvings. Recently,
an iron fence has been put around to protect the tree from vandals.
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