The mysterious ‘Tree of Life’ in Bahrain – A 400 years old tree in the middle of the Arabian desert!

The Tree of Life in Bahrain is an incredible art of Nature in the middle of the Arabian desert, surrounded by miles of lifeless sand, this 400-year-old tree’s existence is a real miracle because there is no water source anywhere. It seems like Mother Nature poured flakes of eternal life on it. It’s just a divine piece on earth.

What Makes The Tree Of Life In Bahrain Mysterious?

Mysterious Tree of Life in Bahrain
The Tree of Life (Shajarat-al-Hayat) in Bahrain is a 9.75 meters high Prosopis cineraria tree that is over 400 years old. It is on a hill in a barren area of the Arabian Desert, 2 kilometers from Jebel Dukhan, the highest point in Bahrain, and 40 kilometers from Manama, the nearest city. © Mapio User

The biggest mystery is the survival of this tree in such an adverse Nature. It’s a vast desert with almost no life at all. The average temperature in the region is 41 degrees Celsius often soaring to 49 degrees, and devastating sandstorms are very common in that region.

To make even stranger, researchers found plenty of water in the root system of the “Tree Of Life” but they couldn’t find the source of the water. To this day, it remains a mystery where the water comes from.

Many have tried to explain the tree’s successful life in the middle of the desert but no one has ever been able to draw a proper conclusion to it.

What Do People Say About The Mysterious Tree Of Life?

Mysterious Tree of Life in Bahrain
The Tree of Life is one of the main tourist attractions on the island. This huge tree lives in the middle of the desert with no known water supply. © Shane T. McCoy.

While rational thinkers are still baffled by the miracle life of this deserted tree, many people look for answers in the mythology or even religious beliefs.

It is said that, from the beginning, the Tree of Life” is protected by Enki, an ancient god of water in Babylonian and Sumerian mythology. Besides this, Enki also holds the power of knowledge, mischief, crafts, and creation.

Others believe that the lonely tree is a remain of the Garden of Eden. I witnessed everything that we read in the Book of Genesis and the Book of Ezekiel.

Whatever the explanation is the Tree of Life gives people hope and helps them believe in miracles and divine powers.

The Possible Explanations For The Biological Success Of The Tree of Life:

Not so sure, it maybe or not, but the fact is that the Tree of Life is located in a desert only 10-12 meters above sea level. On the other hand, the roots of these trees might go up to 50 meters deep which will help it to easily extract the groundwater, making it a possible explanation for the tree’s biological success.

Besides its extremely long roots to seek water from very far underground, the Tree of Life is a Mesquite type of tree. These species are known for collecting the humidity from the air and in that process, it gets enough water to survive. However, why there are no other trees like that in the desert and how did only one tree grow there―that have been remained a mystery.

The Tree of Life As A Tourist Attraction In Bahrain:

Mysterious Tree of Life in Bahrain
A way to the Tree of Life in Bahrain. © CIA World Factbook

The Tree of Life is a great attraction for local tourists that come to visit throughout all the year. Some even consider it as a sacred place and do religious rituals close to the tree.

In addition, there are various other amazing places you could visit in Bahrain such as Manama, Old Houses of Muharraq, Bahrain National Museum, Block 338, Qalat al Bahrain Site and Museum, Dar Islands, Suq al Qaisariya and many more.

A Dark Past Of Bahrain:

Back in the days, Bahrain was an area rich with water. There were fields and farms and developed agriculture. Now, most of these sceneries are not green anymore, it’s turned into a sandy desert with barely any form of life.

During the world war era, most members of Bahrain’s Jewish community abandoned their properties and evacuated to Bombay, later settling in Israel and the United Kingdom. As of 2008, only 37 Jews remained in the country.

It seems like the old Mesquite Tree of Life stands proudly as a reminder of a better life in Bahrain and as a hope to those forlorn people.

Without showing any signs of dying, the tree’s abundant green leaves, long branches and the whole existence are teaching us that all the bad influence of mankind is nothing in front of Nature. It finds its way to create miracles and it will remain invincible to the end.

Here’s Where Is The Tree Of Life Located On Google Maps: