Angel Oak
The Angel Oak is a Southern live oak tree located in Angel Oak Park, in Charleston, South Carolina, on Johns Island, one of South Carolina's Sea Islands. It is estimated to be in excess of 1500 years old[citation needed], stands 65 ft (20 m) tall, measures 28 ft (8.5 m) in circumference, and shades with its crown an area of 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2). Its widest crown spread point-to-point is 180 ft, which is longer than any other live oak in the country. Its longest limb is 105 feet (32 m) in length. The tree and surrounding park have been owned by the city of Charleston since 1991.[1]
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[edit] Cultural significance
The Angel Oak is thought to be one of the oldest living organisms east of the Mississippi River.[2] Angel Oak stands on part of Abraham Waight's 1717 land grant.[citation needed] The oak derives its name from the Angel estate, although local folklore told stories of ghosts of former slaves would appear as angels around the tree.[3][4] The tree has become a significant tourist attraction.[5]
It has survived countless hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and human interference. Angel Oak was damaged severely during Hurricane Hugo in 1989 but has since recovered.
Acorns from the Angel Oak have grown to produce authentic direct-offspring trees. Live oaks generally remain short in proportion to their outward growth.
The Angel Oak tree is featured prominently in the book, The Locket, by Emily Nelson.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Angel Oak Website". http://www.angeloaktree.org/.
- ^ Samuels, Gayle Brandow (1999). Enduring Roots: Encounters with Trees, History and the American Landscape, p. 15. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 0813535395.
- ^ Pakenham, Thomas (2002). Remarkable Trees of the World. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. pp. 142–43. ISBN 0-297-84300-1.
- ^ Dent, Thomas L. (1997). Southern journey: a return to the civil rights movement. New York: W. Morrow. pp. 148. ISBN 0-688-14099-8.
- ^ Perry, Lee Tom (2007). Insiders' guide to Charleston: including Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, Kiawah, and other islands. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press. ISBN 0-7627-4403-0.
