Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

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The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is a high-elevation protected area in California’s White Mountains famous for its extremely long-lived bristlecone pine trees, some of the oldest known living organisms on Earth.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf forest
natural heritage site
protected area
tourist attraction
accessVia White Mountain Road
biodiversityNote dominated by Great Basin bristlecone pine at upper elevations
includes limber pine in some areas
climate cold, dry, high-elevation climate
containsFeature Methuselah Grove
Patriarch Grove
Schulman Grove
groves of ancient bristlecone pines
interpretive trails
scenic viewpoints
visitor center at Schulman Grove
containsTaxon Great Basin bristlecone pine
Pinus longaeva
country United States
ecosystemType high-elevation desert woodland
subalpine forest
elevationRange approximately 2,900–3,400 meters above sea level
approximately 9,500–11,200 feet above sea level
governingBody United States Forest Service
hasRegulation designated trails for visitors
restrictions on collecting wood and cones
locatedIn California
Inyo County, California NERFINISHED
United States
White Mountains
managingOrganization Inyo National Forest
mountainRange White Mountains
nearestCity Bishop, California
notableFor extremely long-lived bristlecone pine trees
some of the oldest known living organisms on Earth
partOf Inyo National Forest
protectionStatus protected area within a U.S. National Forest
soilType dolomitic soils
tourismActivity hiking
nature photography
stargazing
wildlife viewing
treeLongevity among the oldest non-clonal trees on Earth
individual trees over 4,000 years old
usedFor climate reconstruction studies
dendrochronology research
public education about long-lived trees
vegetationType open, sparsely forested slopes


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