WNAM REPORT: The village of Mojrum in Farish district of Jizzakh region is renowned not only for its picturesque landscapes. It is also home to a tree that is several centuries old.
Following Uzbekistan’s independence, many countries and international organizations began to show great interest in the country’s history and natural heritage. The United Nations developed a series of scientific and practical measures aimed at preserving endemic plant species found in Nurota Nature Reserve.
According to German historians, three juniper trees in the world are over a thousand years old. One is located in Canada, the second in China, and the third in the Farish district of Jizzakh region, Uzbekistan.
“To determine the age of this tree, a team of specialists was invited from Germany”, says journalist Rashid Karimov. “The tree’s trunk reaches 24 meters in diameter, and the main branches extend up to 12 meters. The lower branches, weighed down over time, have spread out in different directions and now rest on the ground, forming a dense canopy around the trunk”.
According to historical accounts, in 334 BC, Alexander the Great set out for Asia Minor. The conquest of Central Asian territories – Bactria, Sogdiana, and Margiana – proved to be a formidable challenge. The local people fiercely resisted. In one of the battles near the village of Mojrum, one of his commanders was killed. According to Macedonian tradition, the bodies of noble military leaders were to be buried in their homeland temple. Therefore, Alexander ordered the temporary burial of the fallen commander and his soldiers in the foothills. Around each grave, he instructed that juniper trees be planted. He intended to repatriate the remains after victory. The centuries-old tree in Nurota is believed to be one of those grown in honor of the fallen warriors.
According to the research results, German scientists concluded that the age of this tree exceeds 1,500 years. The juniper tree was subsequently placed under UN protection and included in the list of the three oldest trees in the world, receiving the official name “Biota”.
“According to our ancestors, this tree was planted by Alexander the Great”, says elder Juraboy Rakhimov. “In 1919, my father was 12 years old. That year, a powerful mudflow destroyed a large juniper grove. Only this tree survived”.
Thousands of tourists, both local and foreign, visit the site to see the majestic tree.
To accommodate nature lovers, guesthouses are being built in the foothills, roads are being renovated, and night lighting is being installed. Upon completion of the project, the area where this centuries-old tree stands will become one of the most visited tourist destinations.
