The oldest living organisms on Earth.. Where do they live and how old are they?

- Why do we look for the new and the best, when we can enjoy what has withstood the face of time and its transformations? Adventure lovers can visit 10 living creatures classified as “ambassadors of the past,” including a bird that traveled millions of miles, a rose that survived an air bombing, a tree associated with Buddha, green masses in the Andes, and huge sponges in Antarctica.

These creatures and other wonders await travelers looking for exceptional experiences. Land bird: about 75 years old Wisdom, the oldest land bird in the world, is about 75 years old.

In November, it returned to its winter home on Midway Atoll. Since an identification ring was placed on its leg in 1956, this albatross has traveled more than 4.8 million kilometers, which is equivalent to six times the distance to the moon and back to Earth!

In between her ocean voyages, Wisdom returns in the fall to the Midway Wildlife Refuge to raise her chicks. She survived the tsunami and raised at least 30 chicks during her life.

With patience and the necessary permits, visitors can try to spot Wisdom and other birds of its kind in its tranquil Pacific habitat. Midway Atoll is located at the northernmost tip of the Hawaiian Archipelago.

Wild animal: about 194 years Jonathan, the most famous resident of the small island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, was born around 1832, five years before the coronation of Queen Victoria. Since then, this giant tortoise has lived through the terms of about 40 American presidents.

Jonathan was not a contemporary of Napoleon Bonaparte, the other famous figure who lived on the island, as the French Emperor died in exile there in 1821. The gentle giant tortoise hails from the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean, and moved to the Atlantic Ocean in 1882, as a gift to the then governor of St. Helena Island.

Since then, she has roamed the governor's lavish residence, where she enjoys the company of other giant turtles and frequent visits from humans. Flowering Rose: About 1,200 Years The giant rose bush in the German city of Hildesheim is known as the “Thousand-Year Rose,” and it is believed that King Louis the Pious planted it in 815 next to a cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The Wild Rose survived the Allied bombing that destroyed the cathedral during World War II, and today stands more than 9 meters high, next to the restored church. The best time to visit the site and see its delicate pink flowers is in late May and early June.

A planted tree: about 2,300 years ago. The fig tree that witnessed the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha, in India dates back a long time ago, but another tree grew from a branch that was brought from it to Sri Lanka around the year 250 BC, and it became one of the holiest trees for Buddhists, and the oldest known tree whose date of cultivation was recorded. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree, a member of the sacred fig family, has received visitors from all walks of life for centuries. The writer H. admired it.

Wales, damaged by elephants, and besieged by Tamil separatists. Today, pilgrims come, especially on full moon days, to pay their respects amid gardens, canals, golden fences, Buddhist shrines and younger Bodhi trees, in the Mahamevnawa Gardens of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Fruitful tree: About 2,500 years before the emergence of classical Greece, an olive seed sprouted on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea, about two to three thousand years ago, whether planted by humans or grown naturally. The tree still produces a crop of olives annually.

The ancient olive tree in the village of Vofs, along with other similar trees in the region, attracts artists, clergy, Olympic champions and heads of state, thanks to its twisted trunks and branches. Next to it, a museum has been opened that highlights traditional olive harvesting methods in Crete, which was the center of the ancient Minoan civilization and was famous for the olive oil trade.

Wild herb: about 3,000 years ago Yareta plants look like green masses that resemble moss-covered rocks, but they are flowering shrubs that grow in the harsh conditions of the Andes Mountains in Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and western Argentina. It tolerates wind, frost, and drought, but it grows very slowly, at a rate of one meter every century.

Its oldest shrubs are estimated to be about 3,000 years old. It has been used as a traditional fuel, but South American countries are working to protect this endangered species.

Single Tree: About 5,000 Years Old The Methusela tree, a perennial pine tree in California, is estimated to be about 5,000 years old, making it the oldest known non-replicating organism on Earth. It was named after a character in the Old Testament who, according to accounts, lived 969 years.

Its exact location remains a scientific secret, but visitors can hike among the ancient pines of the Inyo National Forest on a 7.2-kilometre loop trail, and perhaps see the tree itself. Whether they find them or not, the twisted trees, many of them older than the Egyptian pyramids, clinging to steep, dry desert mountains, are worth a visit.

Living animal: about 15,000 years ago Antarctica's volcano sponges, scientifically known as Anoxycalyx joubini, look like huge barrels or mini-volcanoes. It lives in the cold waters around McMurdo Strait, and its age is estimated based on its size, as it grows very slowly.

It lives at depths of up to 152 metres, and harbors small crustaceans and worms, while spiny sea stars feed on it. Divers can explore their habitat after ice holes, where they enjoy exceptional clarity of vision underwater.

Wild Forest: About 80,000 Years The “Pando” Forest in the US state of Utah includes about 50,000 poplar trees, but they are genetically identical and share a single root system, making it a single organism that extends over an area exceeding 40 hectares. Visitors can enjoy the rustle of its leaves and spend the night at a camp inside the Fishlake National Forest.

Marine forest: about 200,000 years old A patch of Mediterranean grasses near the Spanish island of Formentera is the oldest known single organism, estimated to be about 200,000 years old. These herbs, known as "Neptune grass", are reproduced by natural cloning.

The quiet island allows visitors to explore the marine forest by diving or snorkeling, in addition to visiting its lighthouse and natural caves.