The Largest Living Things on Earth: Record-Breaking Trees, Fungi, and More

There are many things that make our planet unique, and one of them is the sheer diversity and size of the living things that inhabit it. From towering trees that stretch towards the sky to colossal fungi that spread beneath the ground, there are many record-breaking organisms that continue to fascinate and amaze us. In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the largest living things on earth and explore what makes them so special.

The Tallest Trees on Earth

When it comes to towering trees, the coast redwoods of California take the crown as the tallest living things on earth. These majestic giants can grow to be over 370 feet tall, which is taller than the Statue of Liberty! These trees are incredibly old as well, with some estimated to be over 2,000 years old. Their massive size and age make them true wonders of the natural world.

The Widest Trees on Earth

While the coast redwoods are certainly impressive, when it comes to width, the baobab tree takes the prize. These unique trees can be found in Africa and can grow to be over 80 feet in circumference. That's wide enough to fit more than 30 people inside the trunk! The baobab tree is also known for its longevity, with some specimens living for over 2,000 years.

The Biggest Flowers on Earth

When it comes to flowers, few can compare to the titan arum. This massive flower can grow to be over 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide, making it one of the largest flowers on earth. What's even more impressive is that the titan arum only blooms once every few years and only lasts for a few days. During this time, it emits a foul odor that has been compared to rotting flesh, which helps to attract pollinators.

The Largest Fungi on Earth

While trees and flowers are certainly impressive, when it comes to size, few things can compare to the giant fungi that can be found in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. The largest of these fungi is the honey mushroom, which can grow to be over 2.4 miles in size! This massive fungus is also incredibly old, with some estimates suggesting that it could be over 8,000 years old.

The Biggest Animals on Earth

When it comes to the biggest animals on earth, it's hard to beat the blue whale. These massive creatures can grow to be over 100 feet long and can weigh as much as 200 tons! Despite their massive size, blue whales feed almost exclusively on tiny shrimp-like creatures called krill, which they filter from the ocean using their baleen plates.

The Largest Organism on Earth

While all of these living things are certainly impressive, when it comes to sheer size, there is one organism that stands above them all: the Pando aspen clone. This massive clone of aspen trees covers an incredible 106 acres and is estimated to weigh more than 6,000 tons! What's even more remarkable is that all of these trees are genetically identical and are connected by a single root system. This means that the Pando clone is not just the largest living thing on earth, but it is also one of the oldest, with some estimates suggesting that it could be over 80,000 years old.

The world is full of incredible living things, and the record-breaking trees, fungi, and animals that we've explored in this blog post are just a few examples. These organisms remind us of the incredible diversity and resilience of life on earth and the importance of protecting our planet's natural wonders. Whether it's a towering redwood or a massive honey mushroom, each of these living things is a testament to the power and beauty of nature.