4. Kauri
Okay, so the kauri tree—which is a species native to New Zealand—might not be the largest on this list, but it most certainly is one of the most interesting! More precisely, the most popular of its kind is known as Tāne Mahuta has a rather interesting legend behind it. As the largest known kauri on the planet, Tāne Mahuta is actually a name derived from Māori that translates to “Lord of the Forest”; a fitting name, considering it has a volume of 18,222 cubic feet. The name also refers to one of the Māori gods. Legend has it that Tāne was essentially the son of the sky and Mother Earth. At one time, the sky and the Earth were connected; which caused a world of darkness. In an attempt to separate his father and mother Tāne thrust his legs into the sky, pushing his father away from his mother and thus shedding light on the world and creating new life. Neat story, huh?
Shaun Jeffers/Shutterstock.com
