Writer visits largest tree in the world

Arbol Del Tule In July, Columbia's Unitarian Universalist congregation rightfully paid homage to its 200- year- old tree — a symbol of endurance and beauty and God's handiwork. This stalwart oak might just qualify as a stripling to the Tule natives of southern Mexico.

In a lovely valley near the town of Santa Maria del Tule, locals and tourists gather under the sheltering arms of El Arbol del Tule - the 2,000- year- old pride of the community.

In English, the tree is a Montezuma Cypress. In the Nahuatl language, this tree is "ahuehuete" inspiring descriptions such as "Opulent branches which bring happiness," "a nesting home for millions of birds," "venerated by all," as described locally.

The tree variety is not an uncommon one for Mexico. Huge spreading branches and thick foliage provide welcome shade and shelter throughout this part of the world. It is characterized by slow growth, and through the decades reaches skyward in varying configurations, spreading and stretching to develop different shapes in time.

But a two- millennium lifespan? Incredible, even for this hardy species. El Arbol del Tule registers the following statistics: height: 42 meters (46 yds), spread: 58 meters (63 yds), diameter: 14.05 meters (16 yds), volume: 816,829 cubic meters, and weight: 636.107 tons.

"The Tree in History" has survived revolutions, political upheavals, nature's storms, and a calculated attack from a local wealthy businessman who offered a large sum to the Tule Indians to cut down the tree to make rafters. His proposition met with "desden" (disdain) and the epithet of "Este vandalo!" - "You are a bandit!"

Photographing El Arbol del Tule is a challenge, considering its massive trunk and astonishing height. Best to go there and see for yourself. It is a short distance from the city of Oaxaca, in southern Mexico.