Aurora

Millenium Tree in Aurora – Probably the Oldest in Asia

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MILLENIUM TREE

Photo from: http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/As/Philippines/Aurora/BaleteMariaAurora.htm

There is eerie and somewhat creepy balete tree amidst papaya plantations near Maria Aurora village. It is some 60 – 65 m tall and some 60 adult people are needed to get their arms around this incredible tree. This is Millenium Tree – one of the largest trees in the world.

This giant of Maria Aurora is a balete tree – a kind of banyan (Ficus balete or, possibly – Ficus benjamina). Often there is mentioned that this is the largest banyan tree in Asia. In fact this can not be proved or disclaimed: there are many ways to measure the size of the tree, especially banyans and there certainly are many noble contenders for the title of largest banyan tree in the world.

It is very hard to find the exact circumference or diameter of old banyan trees due to aerial roots. As the tree becomes older more and more aerial roots enclose the main trunk, one after another they grow into the older trunks and finally it is not possible to find the middle behind the dense network of these roots. Read More: http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/As/Philippines/Aurora/BaleteMariaAurora.htm

Photo from: http://www.pusangkalye.net/2012/06/tree-hugging-millennium-tree-at-balete.html

Dubbed locally as the Millennium tree, this huge Balete located on one of Maria Aurora’s dirt roads has been attracting the attention of local visitors of Baler.

It is unimaginably huge that it would take 60 adult individuals, holding hands together, to fully encircle its trunk. It’s massiveness becomes evident as my friends started walking towards it, they looked like little kids beside the tree.

Balete trees wrap themselves like parasites on the trunks and branches of a host tree. And this is an excellent example of what happens over time, the original tree in the middle is now gone, leaving a hollow inside the Balete.

A passage between its twisted roots allows visitors to even access this hollow; it fitted all six of easily inside. It was dark, hot and humid at the core of the Balete with only shafts of light passing through its roots illuminating its creepy interior.

It is said that this tree is the oldest of its kind in the whole of Asia, hopefully it would last a few hundred more years with the help of both the locals and its visitors. Read More: http://www.lakadpilipinas.com/2011/11/aurora-maria-auroras-600-year-old.html

Main characteristics

Coordinates:	15.7698 N 121.4770 E
No:	165 (list of all attractions)
Category:	Trees
Values:	Biology, Visual
Rank:	3
Address:	Asia, Philippines, Luzon, Aurora Province, Quirino barangay, some 3.5 km from Maria Aurora village, in Balete Park
Species:	Balete (Ficus balete Merr.) or weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L.)
Height:	65 m (?)
Diameter:	Around 12 – 15 m
Crown diameter:	Roughly 60 m
Alternate names:	Millenium Tree, Centennial Tree

Table from: http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/As/Philippines/Aurora/BaleteMariaAurora.htm

At the Maria Aurora Baler, stands the Official Millenium Tree of The Philippines. The Old Balete Tree is 600 years old already!. The largest tree I have ever seen of its kind. It is claimed to be the Largest Balete Tree in Asia(also called Banyan Tree).It is one the most visited tourist spot here in Aurora. This Balete Tree is about 60 meters tall.

My first thought about this ancient tree is that its creepy! Lol the stories and movies regarding those of Balete Trees and the bundle of horror scenes with it. Read More: http://explorewitheleanor.blogspot.com/2015/06/june-2015-baler-aurora-2d1n-tour-package.html