The Tree Of Life: Water Source Mystery In Bahrain

The Tree of Life in Bahrain is a 9.75-metre-tall tree that has been standing for over 400 years in the barren Arabian Desert, where there is little to no rainfall. The tree is abundantly covered in green leaves and is a popular tourist attraction, with tens of thousands of visitors each year. However, the mystery of how the tree gets its water remains unsolved. Some speculate that its roots reach deep underground to access water, while others attribute its survival to mystical powers.

The tree's deep root system

The Tree of Life's root system is truly a marvel. The tree is a Prosopis cineraria, also known as Ghaf in Arabic, a species that can withstand high temperatures and long periods without water. The tree's roots extend an incredible 50 metres in search of water, and it is believed that this is how the tree accesses water in an arid environment.

The tree's root system is so extensive that it is visible above ground. The roots spread out wide, and on one side of the tree, the heavy, low-hanging branches touch the sand. The tree's resilience and ability to survive in harsh conditions have made it a symbol of strength and endurance for the people of Bahrain.

Scientists have studied the tree to try and understand how it has survived for so long in the desert. One theory is that the tree's roots reach an underground water source, possibly an underground stream located a few kilometres away. Another theory suggests that the tree draws moisture from the morning dew, the sand, or the air. The humidity in the breeze coming from the sea, over 13 kilometres away, may also provide a source of moisture.

The tree's root system is not just impressive for its depth but also for its ability to extract water from the ground. The tree can survive in dry conditions because it only needs a small amount of water, which it can find through its extensive root system. This has allowed the tree to survive for centuries in an environment with little to no rainfall.

The Tree of Life stands as a testament to the resilience and strength of nature, a lone survivor in a barren desert, thriving against all odds.

Underground water sources

The Tree of Life in Bahrain is a 9.75-metre-high Prosopis cineraria tree that is over 400 years old. It stands alone on a hill in the barren Arabian Desert, with no visible water source for miles around. Despite the arid conditions, the tree is covered in green leaves and has roots full of water.

One theory for how the tree gets its water is that it draws it from an underground source. The tree's roots are 50 metres deep, which may be enough to reach an underground water supply. The tree's presence indicates that a water table exists, from which it draws the small amount of water it needs to survive.

Most scientific studies have concluded that the Tree of Life is irrigated by an underground stream located three kilometres away. Bahrain has two groundwater systems: the Dammam aquifer system and the Rus-Umm Er Radhuma aquifer system. The Dammam aquifer system is considered renewable, while the Rus-Umm Er Radhuma aquifer system is non-renewable. The former is the only natural, semi-renewable, relatively freshwater source available in Bahrain. It is recharged by the equivalent aquifer system in eastern Saudi Arabia. The latter occurs in the form of a brackish water lens with a salinity range of 8,000 to 15,000 milligrams per litre.

The Tree of Life's roots may reach the water table of one of these aquifer systems, providing it with enough water to survive. However, it is important to note that Bahrain's groundwater reserves suffer from severe degradation due to over-extraction and seawater intrusion. This has resulted in a decline in water quality and quantity.

Morning dew and sand moisture

Morning dew is the result of condensation—water in the form of droplets that appear on thin, exposed objects in the morning or evening. Dew forms when the exposed surface cools by radiating its heat, and the atmospheric moisture condenses at a rate greater than that at which it can evaporate, resulting in the formation of water droplets. Dew typically forms on surfaces that are not warmed by conducted heat from deep in the ground, such as grass, leaves, and railings.

The dew we see and feel on the grass in the morning is linked to how cloudy the sky was the previous night. When the sky is clear or mostly clear overnight, the ground cools, and the warm air radiates away from the ground, up toward the sky. If the ground cools enough, dew then forms on the grass. When it's cloudy overnight, the ground retains more of its heat, and not as much heat is radiated up to the sky. Even the heat that does radiate off the ground is then reflected back toward the Earth's surface when it hits the cloud layer. This means dew is less likely to form.

In the case of the Tree of Life in Bahrain, it is possible that the tree benefits from morning dew and sand moisture. The tree is located in an arid, barren desert with no lush vegetation around it and no visible water source for miles. However, it manages to survive and thrive, with its branches peppered with green leaves.

The tree's ability to survive in such harsh conditions has led to various scientific and mystical explanations. Scientifically, it is speculated that the tree's roots may reach an underground water source, as they extend 50 meters deep into the sand. Additionally, the species Prosopis cineraria, also known as Ghaf in Arabic, is known for its ability to withstand high temperatures and survive with minimal water.

Some also attribute the tree's survival to mystical sources, claiming that it was once a part of the biblical Garden of Eden or that it is protected by Enki, the ancient Sumerian god of freshwater.

Mystical water sources

The Tree of Life in Bahrain has drawn many visitors and residents to attribute mystical powers to it due to its mysterious survival in the desert. The tree stands alone in the barren Arabian Desert, with no other vegetation around it, and no visible water source. It is believed to be over 400 years old, and it is a local tourist attraction, visited by approximately 50,000 to 65,000 people every year.

One mystical theory is that the tree is protected by Enki, the ancient Sumerian god of freshwater. Legend has it that Enki gave the tree the strength needed to endure the harsh conditions of the sparse Arabian desert. The Sumerians were thought to have lived in Babylonia from 4000 to 3000 BC and had strong spiritual beliefs in higher powers. All their gods were personifications of natural forces, and Enki was held in exceptionally high regard.

Another mystical theory is that the Tree of Life was once part of the biblical Garden of Eden, and therefore has its own mysterious ways of obtaining water. In the Bible, the Garden of Eden is described as having its own Tree of Life, which is an Acacia tree—a species similar to the Prosopis Cineraria, the type of tree that the Tree of Life in Bahrain is believed to be. This theory is supported by the fact that long ago, Bahrain is said to have been a tropical oasis with lush flora and fauna.

Some scientists have also theorised that the tree draws moisture from the breezes that originate from the Persian Gulf or the morning dew, or absorbs moisture from the sand or the air.

Oil and other nutrients

The Tree of Life in Bahrain is a mesquite tree, a variety not native to the region. It is believed to have been introduced by wandering traders when the island was under Portuguese rule. The tree is thought to have been planted in 1582 or 1583, making it over 400 years old. It stands at 9.75 metres tall, with a wide and sprawling form.

The tree's ability to survive and thrive in the harsh desert environment has puzzled locals and scientists for centuries. One theory speculates that the tree's roots reach deep underground to tap into hidden water reserves, possibly from an underground stream located a few kilometres away. Others suggest that the tree draws moisture from the morning dew, the sand, or the air.

The tree's resilience has led some to believe that it finds its nutrients from oil. This theory may hold some weight, as the tree is surrounded by rows of oil wells. However, it is important to note that the tree's exact source of water and nutrients remains a mystery.

The Tree of Life's survival has also been attributed to mystical or religious explanations. Some believe that the tree is sustained by the Sumerian God of Water, Enki, who blessed the tree with the strength to endure harsh conditions. Others claim that the tree is located in the biblical Garden of Eden and thus has a mystical source of water.

The tree's significance goes beyond its mysterious survival. It has become a symbol of endurance, strength, and resilience for the people of Bahrain and a cherished part of their natural heritage.

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