The Ancient Bristlecone Pines near Bishop are the oldest trees – and perhaps the oldest living organisms – in the world. Some have been estimated at over 4,000 years old! (And I thought I was old…) They thrive because they are suited for the alkaline soil in which they grow (at elevations from over 9,000 feet to 11,000 feet) – soil in which other species have difficulty growing, so they have little competition for the scarce resources in the area.
Read more on the forest’s official site: