In the Altai Mountains of western Mongolia: The tree pictured is Siberian larch [Larix sibirica]. We were unable to reach the center of the tree, but the inner rings reach back to the 1240s A.D. There is a good chance this tree was a seedling around the end of Chinggis Khaan's [Ghengis Khan] life, during the 1220s. As you can see, Mongolia is truly the land of blue sky.

TREE-RING LABORATORY, LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. ROUTE 9W, PALISADES, NEW YORK 10964
Voice: (845) 365-8517, Fax: (845) 365-8152

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Last Updated: June, 1999 (Neil)