Utah Wildfire is Dangerously Close to Pando, The World’s Largest Living Organism
There is an interesting growth in Utah that has been recognized as the largest and oldest living organism on the planet.
It’s not a fungus or an animal, but it is alive and being threatened by a massive wildfire.
What is ‘Pando’ in Utah, and Why is it in Danger?
Almost exactly in the center of Utah is a massive grove of Aspen trees, about 40,000 of them, that all share the same root system. It’s believed they weigh around 13 million pounds and began growing around 2.6 million years ago.
The size and age of the tree system in the Fishlake National Forest have earned it the name Pando and the title of the largest and oldest living organism in the world.
Over the years, there have been various threats to the trees, including insects, disease, and foraging animals. But there is a new, current threat to the monstrous Pando: wildfire.
Utah Wildfire is Dangerously Close to Pando, The World’s Largest Living Organism
The Monroe Canyon wildfire is burning and growing about 9 miles from the aspen trees. A social media post from KSL says there isn’t an immediate threat to Pando, but the wildfire is growing and only 7 percent contained according to the government wildfire tracker.
If the fire continues to grow, it could spread quickly to Pando.
The wildfire situation in Utah is bad, forcing Governor Cox to declare a state of emergency. Evacuations and road closures have been ordered and will most likely continue to happen as the fires rage.
One picture from the Draper City Fire Department, which has sent firefighters to help battle the blaze, shows the fire glowing in a night sky.
Learn more about Pando in the video below, and remember to be extra careful when outdoors with sparks and flames during wildfire season.
Yellowstone Wildfire of 1988
More From Kool 96.5
