Centuries-old oak toppled in Maryland storm


WYE MILLS, Maryland (AP) --The massive Wye Oak, the living symbol of Maryland's state tree and designated the largest white oak in the country, was toppled Thursday during a thunderstorm.

The tree was estimated to be more than 460 years old -- meaning it was growing in Maryland before the pilgrims arrived. It was 104 feet tall, with a trunk 32 feet in circumference, and weighed 200 tons.

The tree was included on a species-by-species list of the largest trees in the country compiled in 1940 by American Forests, a nonprofit citizens conservation organization.

The centuries-old tree was spread across Route 662 in Talbot County. About 30 people surrounded the tree Thursday evening in pouring rain, with some taking branches as souvenirs.

Wind gusted to 60 mph during Thursday's storm, the weather service said.

Gov. Parris Glendening said in a statement late Thursday that he was saddened by the loss of "one of our state's most historic, beautiful and stately natural symbols."




 

 

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http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/06/07/oak.destroyed.ap/index.html  [/url]

Shame.

Gov. Parris Glendening - [b]D[/b] Maryland

I am sure those branches will be on EBAY by the end of the week.

Excellent idea!

460 years old..... amazing that it hasn't fallen earlier.

[img]http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2002/US/06/07/oak.destroyed.ap/story.wye.oak.ap.jpg[/img]

Looks like it might have had some rot inside.....


Hey, someone get some 'genetic material' from it.... wouldn't be that hard to clone a seedling.....  

[b] IT LIVES..... IT LIVES!!!!![/B]

Did somebody say, "bonfire"?

Dogs for miles around will be gravely disappointed.

Damn , me with no fire place .

Ya know, I just remembered.  Not sure how correct I am...

If the roots are alive, maybe the old tree will send up some kind of 'shoot' from somewhere.....

Apple trees do it..... ya know the saying...

[b] Nature finds a way....[/b]

Who wants to come to a funeral? I'm "murdering" 2 trees this week to make room for my garage.

Can you say [b] FREE FIREWOOD [/b] I have chain saw.[chainsaw] Man oh man that old oak will make for some good hot burning this winter.[:D]

There [b]WILL[/b] be a memorial service held in Seattle....

[In my best Chris Farley voice]...YOU HEARTLESS BASTARDS!!  You have no idea what that tree meant to us!  [>(]

HA!  The joke is on you!  The state of Maryland has a field full of [b]clones[/b] of that beloved tree, and dammit, there will be tons of 'em in 400 years!  HOW ABOUT THEM APPLES?

I guess they got wood in Maryland.

You mean "acorns".

The tree is now the symbol of rot and corruption in Maryland.  Fitting.

I thought this might have been a post about al gore...

I'm not sure I understand this emphasis, 1GUN'.  
Explain when you can, please.

Just merely pointing out his political affiliation.  

Ban thunderstorms; it's for the trees.