The mysterious Tree of Life

On the top of a sand dune, in the middle of the desert in South Bahrain, a solitary tree stands tall. No flora can be seen for miles around as there’s not a drop of water to be found. And yet, the wide-branched tree has survived for some 4 centuries. The Bahrainis believe that the Tree of Life is a natural wonder, and the 10-metre high tree now attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.

It is said that long ago Adam and Eve once walked these lands. Legend has it that the tree was planted in 1583 to mark the spot where the Garden of Eden was located in Biblical times. The wildest stories are told about the Tree of Life: according to some, the roots extend so far that they can absorb moisture from a fresh water spring reservoir hundreds of metres deep, located many kilometres away. But probably imagination is better than reality.