Taiwan: More than 84 meters high - Researchers discover record tree

Taiwanese researchers have identified a towering Taiwania cryptomerioides tree in the island's mountains, which they claim is the tallest known tree in East Asia. Dubbed the "Sword of the Da'an River," the tree stands an impressive 84.1 meters tall.

The discovery, detailed in the journal "Frontiers in Forests and Global Change" by a team led by Rebecca Chia-Chun Hsu of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, was the culmination of a nine-year search in challenging, hard-to-reach terrain. The researchers noted that Taiwan's unique topography and extensive old-growth forests on steep slopes make it one of the few places globally where trees can exceed 80 meters in height.

To locate the giant trees, the research team employed Lidar technology, using laser pulses from aircraft to create detailed 3D elevation models of the landscape. Hundreds of volunteers assisted in analyzing the data, ultimately mapping 941 trees taller than 65 meters. The expedition to the record-holding tree involved a 20-kilometer river route and steep ascents, with climbers measuring the tree from its crown to the ground.

By early 2026, the team had discovered and climbed ten Taiwania trees exceeding 70 meters, including two that surpassed the 80-meter mark. Indigenous Rukai people poetically refer to these giant Taiwania trees as "trees that touch the moon."

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Trees that touch the moon.