In nature's longevity contest, the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine is the undisputed champion. Thriving in the harsh, high-altitude rocky slopes of Nevada, their extreme environment forces an incredibly slow growth rate. For comparison: While common, fast-growing trees like poplars reach the end of their lifecycle in mere decades, a Bristlecone Pine may still be in its seedling stage. The oldest known individual, 'Methuselah,' has lived for over 4,850 years—meaning it sprouted before the Great Pyramids of Giza were even completed. These trees are living fossils; their dense, resinous wood is so resilient that they can remain standing in the wilderness for centuries even after death, creating a literal 'eternal landscape.'