Mar 22, 2010: Kauri Staircase

xoxoxoBruce · 03-21-2010, 10:22 PM

New Zealand is home to the Kauri trees, a giant evergreen that has almost disappeared, mainly because it's light, strong and rot resistant, so favored for ship building. Of the remaining trees, the largest is 16 meters in girth and several are 2000 years old. Cape Reigna, at New Zealand's north end, was a swamp at one time, and the locals dig preserved trunks and stumps out of the bog. They use the wood to fashion musical instruments and crafts, from wood thousands of years old.

The Kauri mill has a shop where people can buy pieces of wood, or things made from it, that's centerpiece is this staircase.

This staircase was hollowed out of a stump, reportedly 75,000 years old.
That may or may not be true, but it sure was a big one.

link

link

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Bullitt · 03-21-2010, 11:09 PM

Nice find bruce. Here's an article on some of the oldest living trees on Earth: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...-tree-gallery/

rditlkustoleit · 03-22-2010, 07:56 AM

Ah, I think back to the days when Frodo, Sam and Bilbo used to play hide and seek around this tree in the Shire.

__________________

If we're not supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat?!

Trilby · 03-22-2010, 08:07 AM

Frodo - exactly.

I thought THE oldest tree was a Yew in England?

Anyway - I have a very personal love/hate/hate relationship with yews.

Taxotere is from the yew tree.

newtimer · 03-22-2010, 08:07 AM

You think that's big? You should see the trees in Old Zealand!

glatt · 03-22-2010, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

I thought THE oldest tree was a Yew in England?

A roughly 4,841 year old tree in California has that honor. There was an older one, but scientists cut it down to study it.

Pete Zicato · 03-22-2010, 09:23 AM

wooden it be cool to have that in your home?

glatt · 03-22-2010, 09:37 AM

Yeah. It wood.

If I was carving it out, I'd be nervous about messing it up. Laying out a spiral staircase isn't easy.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-22-2010, 03:32 PM

I wondered if they used all that wood they cut out for other stuff?

spudcon · 03-22-2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I wondered if they used all that wood they cut out for other stuff?

Yup, sawdust.

Mayor of Shekou · 03-22-2010, 08:52 PM

I think they missed a great opportunity when they made it a staircase. Picture it as a nicely polished spiral slide instead! That would be amazing to have in your home (it would be great just to have a home big enough for it!).

Dagney · 03-22-2010, 09:00 PM

Wow, and no one's mentioned how Kauri smoked <insert random cute critter here> would taste. Yer slippin guys!

Pete Zicato · 03-23-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagney

Wow, and no one's mentioned how Kauri smoked <insert random cute critter here> would taste. Yer slippin guys!

No. But I thought it.

Sundae · 03-23-2010, 03:08 PM

To all Englanders - what a waste of a good tree, that could have been the Slippery Slip!

03-21-2010, 10:22 PM	#1
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Mar 22, 2010: Kauri Staircase New Zealand is home to the Kauri trees, a giant evergreen that has almost disappeared, mainly because it's light, strong and rot resistant, so favored for ship building. Of the remaining trees, the largest is 16 meters in girth and several are 2000 years old. Cape Reigna, at New Zealand's north end, was a swamp at one time, and the locals dig preserved trunks and stumps out of the bog. They use the wood to fashion musical instruments and crafts, from wood thousands of years old. The Kauri mill has a shop where people can buy pieces of wood, or things made from it, that's centerpiece is this staircase. This staircase was hollowed out of a stump, reportedly 75,000 years old. That may or may not be true, but it sure was a big one. link link link __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-21-2010, 11:09 PM	#2
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	Nice find bruce. Here's an article on some of the oldest living trees on Earth: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...-tree-gallery/ __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass. Last edited by Bullitt; 03-21-2010 at 11:14 PM.

03-22-2010, 08:07 AM	#4
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Frodo - exactly. I thought THE oldest tree was a Yew in England? Anyway - I have a very personal love/hate/hate relationship with yews. Taxotere is from the yew tree. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

03-22-2010, 09:23 AM	#7
Pete Zicato Turns out my CRS is a symptom of TMB. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 2,916	wooden it be cool to have that in your home? __________________ Talk nerdy to me.

03-22-2010, 03:32 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I wondered if they used all that wood they cut out for other stuff? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-22-2010, 07:56 AM	#3
rditlkustoleit Violator of Customs Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 49	Ah, I think back to the days when Frodo, Sam and Bilbo used to play hide and seek around this tree in the Shire. __________________ If we're not supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat?!

03-22-2010, 08:07 AM	#5
newtimer Operations Operative Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 479	You think that's big? You should see the trees in Old Zealand!

03-22-2010, 09:37 AM	#8
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Yeah. It wood. If I was carving it out, I'd be nervous about messing it up. Laying out a spiral staircase isn't easy.

03-22-2010, 08:52 PM	#11
Mayor of Shekou You can't misbehave when you stick out in a crowd Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Shekou, Shenzhen - Southern China Posts: 110	I think they missed a great opportunity when they made it a staircase. Picture it as a nicely polished spiral slide instead! That would be amazing to have in your home (it would be great just to have a home big enough for it!).

03-22-2010, 09:00 PM	#12
Dagney The Prodigal Brat Returneth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Cackalacky Posts: 1,107	Wow, and no one's mentioned how Kauri smoked <insert random cute critter here> would taste. Yer slippin guys! __________________ The Constitution gives every American the right to make a total fool out of himself. But that doesn't mean you need to.

03-23-2010, 03:08 PM	#14
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	To all Englanders - what a waste of a good tree, that could have been the Slippery Slip! __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

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