The Tree of Life in the Desert
Alone on a bare, sandy ridge in Bahrain stands a green tree about 400 years old. There's no water to be seen anywhere.
What was reported
Bahrain's Tree of Life is a large mesquite tree growing on a small hill in the desert, far from other trees, with no obvious water source. It's thought to be around 400 years old, and it stays green even in the heat of summer.
Legends have grown up around it. Some say it marks the site of the Garden of Eden, others that it's protected by a spirit or by Enki, the ancient god of water. It draws tens of thousands of visitors a year.
Explanations offered
Scientists think the tree has very deep roots that reach underground water, possibly tens of metres down. Mesquite trees are known for this. Archaeologists have also found remains of a settlement nearby.
- When
- About 400 years old
- Where
- Jebel Dukhan, Southern Governorate, Bahrain
- Witnesses
- Visitors to Bahrain
- Status
- Partly explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.