Survivor Trees

There are many trees that have emerged survivors of disastrous events around the world. They are locally revered as symbols of hope, and cherished for reflecting the courage and spirit of the affected communities.

This eucalyptus survived an A-bomb. Photo credit: ken/Flickr

After the atomic bomb destroyed large areas of Hiroshima in 1945, it was thought that the land will be barren of life for at least75 years. But the following spring new shoots were seen springing up amongst the debris of the city. As many as 170 trees representing 32 different species were preserved in more than 50 locations within a 2km radius of the hypocenter. Today each A-bombed tree is called a "Hibaku Jumoku" — survivor tree - and is identified by a name plate.

Photo credit: 911memorialmuseum.tumblr.com

A badly damaged stump of a Callery pear (above) was pulled from the rubble of the World Trade Center towers in New York City, after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. The tree has since been nursed back to health and replanted near the National 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan.

Photo credit: bombing.newsok.com

The force of the Oklahoma Cityblast ripped most of the branches from this American Elm, and glass and debris were embedded in its trunk. The tree was almost chopped down during investigation in order to gather evidence hanging from its branches and embedded in its bark. But the community came together and rescued the tree.

More: Amusing Planet

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