It is often rare to come across a tree in the middle of the desert. However, did you know that it can be found in that of Bahrain? The one and only in the area, it is over 400 years old…
The tree of life : this is how the Prosopis cineraria located in the desert of Bahrain is nicknamed. Isolated from any sign of life, it has nevertheless been alive and well for more than 400 years. 9.75 meters high, it is on a hill, in an arid zone of this Arabian desert.
This tree is covered with green leaves. Due to its old age and the fact that it is the only tree of this magnitude growing in the area, it is now a local tourist attraction. More than 60,000 people come to see it every year. Its yellow resin is even used to make candles, aromatics or even gum. In addition, its beans are transformed into jam, wine and even flour.
Specialists do not know why the tree manages to survive, rain being almost non-existent in Bahrain. According to some, its roots are 50 meters deep, which can be enough to reach water. Others believe that the tree was able to extract moisture from the grains of sand. Eventually, some hypotheses claim that the tree is on what was once the Garden of Eden. He would therefore have a mystical source of water.
What do you think ?