The oldest measured tree in the Plitvice Lakes National Park is a common beech (Fagus sylvatica) tree. This common beech tree is more than 569 years old and is one of the oldest trees of this species in Europe. Although its diameter at breast height is only 80 cm, it has reached a great age, which means that the annual growth of this tree is only 0.14 cm.
The great age of this tree in relation to its diameter at breast height indicates that the living conditions (soil, water, light) in the habitat of this species are very scarce, but nevertheless the species, with its own ability to adapt to difficult habitat conditions, has reached a very old age and, instead of large dimensions, has chosen a long life.
The importance of isolating and preserving forest areas that have developed without human influence in order to enable the study of the development pattern of natural forest communities, is also confirmed by the fact that this tree is found in the “Čorkova uvala” rainforest, which is located in the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
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