That Wānaka Tree
| That Wānaka Tree | |
|---|---|
 The tree at sunrise | |
.svg)  That Wānaka Tree The tree's location within New Zealand | |
| Species | Crack willow (Salix × fragilis) |
| Location | Southern Lake Wānaka |
| Coordinates | 44°41′54″S 169°07′03″E / 44.6983°S 169.1175°E |
That Wānaka Tree, also known as the That Wānaka Willow, is the nickname of a willow tree located at the southern end of Lake Wānaka in the Otago region of New Zealand. The tree sits alone in the water and is a popular destination for tourists to take Instagram photos. As a result of its popularity, the tree has been intentionally and unintentionally damaged on several occasions.
Popularity[edit]
The tree derives its nickname from the hashtag "#ThatWanakaTree", which is used on Instagram to identify photos of the tree.[1] The tree has been described as "New Zealand's most famous tree" and called "one of the most photographed trees in all New Zealand."[2][1] A photograph of the tree by Dennis Radermacher won the 2014 New Zealand Geographic photo of the year award.[3]
Human impact[edit]
The tree has been damaged on several occasions, both intentionally and unintentionally. A branch came off the tree in late 2017 due to tourists climbing it, which led to the local tourism board installing signs discouraging the practice.[4] The tree was vandalised on 18 March 2020, with multiple limbs being sawn off and left on the shore.[5][6] Reports noted that the tree's limbs would likely be slow to grow back due to the cold water the tree's roots are submerged in.[4] The human impact on the tree has been compared to that at other tourist attractions like Joshua Tree National Park and Uluru.[1][7]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Marcus, Lilit. "New Zealand's most famous tree, 'That Wanaka Tree,' vandalized". CNN. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "That Wanaka Tree". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ O'Brien, Alex. "The story behind that Wanaka Tree". Over Sixty. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ a b Butler, Alex. "How you can help protect New Zealand's most famous tree". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ Lewis, Sophie. "New Zealand's famous Wanaka tree, a symbol of hope, vandalized". CBS News. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ McKenzie-McLean, Jo (18 March 2020). "Outrage after picturesque Wanaka tree attacked with saw". Stuff. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ Hallinan, Bridget. "This Famous New Zealand Landmark Is Being Destroyed by Tourists". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 1 February 2021.