Living tree with greatest girth
Who
El Árbol del Tule
Where
Mexico (Tule)
When
2005

The living tree with the greatest circumference (girth) is that belonging to El Arbol del Tule in Oaxaca state, Mexico. This Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) measured 42 m (137 ft) tall in 1998, with a girth of approximately 36 m (119 ft) and a diameter of 11.5 m (38 ft), at 1.5 m (5 ft) above the ground.

The Tree of One Hundred Horses, a European chestnut (Castanea sativa) had a circumference of 57.9 m (190 ft) in 1780, but unfortunately, due to abuse over the years, this tree is now in 3 widely separate pieces. (See tree - greatest girth ever).

Generally speaking, however, the largest girths are attributed to African baobab trees (Adansonia digitata), with measurements of 43 m (141 ft) recorded. However, measurers need to make sure that it is indeed one mass (as the Montezuma is) rather than a few fused together.

If 10 medium sized cars were placed end-to-end in a circle this would be about the same size as the girth of this tree.

 

Please note that this was updated according to the letter received from Ron Hildebrant in October 2002 (attached), explaining our previously wrong measurements.