These sixteen olive trees are located in Bchaalé, in the Batroun region, at some 1200 meters above sea level, which is quite unusual: olive trees usually grow at an altitude of about 800 meters max.
A scientific study was led in 2019, estimating that the trees were between 2050 and 1400 years old, which makes them the oldest olive trees in Lebanon, and in the world at this altitude. Other studies are ongoing.
However, local people say that they are 4000 to 6000 years old and that they even date back to biblical times: they would be at the origin of the olive branch brought to Noah in his ark by a dove, indicating to him the decline of the waters that had covered the world, and the reappearance of the lands.
Either way, the gnarled trunk of these olive trees shows their advanced age. Visitors always express the deep respect inspired by these trees, that have been standing here for more than 2000 thousand years.
