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Gordon W | all galleries >> Photos by Subject >> Everything Else Gallery > 'The Big Tree' 20090206
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06-FEB-2009

'The Big Tree' 20090206

The Big Tree of Lamar is one of the most famous in the world. The giant live oak is a charter member
of the Live Oak Society of America, and has been the subject of one of Ripley's "Believe It or Not" cartoons.

It is measured to be more than 35 feet in circumference, 44 feet in height and has a crown spread of 89 feet.
The Texas Forest Service estimates the tree to be over 1,000 years old.

The Big Tree is also known as the Lamar Oak, Bishop's Oak and the Goose Island Oak. It is recognized
as the State Champion Coastal live oak. It is said to have been a council tree for the Carancahua Indians
and for the white men who came after them.

It doesn't look its size in this shot, which encompasses the entire tree, but it took six 17mm (27mm equiv.)
shots stitched together to get it all in.

Photographed along the Gulf coast in Goose Island State Park near Rockport, Texas, USA.
40395-400


other sizes: small medium original auto
Karen Moen17-Feb-2009 08:28
Thank you for the background information as well as a lovely composite photo. Amazing how many storms the tree must have endured so near the coast. Voted.
Tom Torbert06-Feb-2009 23:36
Great story.. Love old trees like this one.. They span so many human generations.. Hard to imagine.. V