Highest ring count

The world record for the highest ring count ever found on a tree is 4,867 and belonged to a bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) known as Prometheus, which was cut down in 1963 on Mt Wheeler, Nevada, USA. The ring count was taken at 2.4 m (8 ft) above the base. Prometheus measured 5.1 m (17 ft) high, 1.8 m (6 ft) in diameter and grew at an elevation of 3,048 m (10,000 ft) in very harsh conditions. Due to these harsh conditions trees grow very slowly and often do not grow a ring for every year, therefore Prometheus was actually older than 4,876 and possibly more like 5,200 years old. This makes it the oldest tree ever recorded as growing on Earth.