Here’s another reminder of why nature is so amazing. In the midst of the Borneo rainforest in Malaysia, scientists have discovered a behemoth of a tree, measuring more than 100 meters (328ft) tall. The lofty yellow meranti, as it’s known, is so long that if it were laid along the ground, it would be longer than a standard soccer field—making it the tallest Tropical tree ever recorded.
The tree, nicknamed “Menara” (Malaysian for “tower”), was originally detected in 2018 after scientists laser-scanned the forest from an airplane. But in order to verify its height, someone had to climb the tree and measure it by hand with a tape measure. Scientists estimate that Menara, the record-breaking tree weighs 81,500 kilograms (179,676 pounds), or more than the maximum takeoff weight of a Boeing 737-800, excluding roots. The tree is also so large that it can contain its own ecosystem consisting of over 1,000 types of insects, fungi, and plants. The scientists say it’s an important discovery because it tells us that, yes, these types of giant trees do exist and that there may be more in the region.
