The story of this tree's sad demise in 1973 offers a bitter reminder of how even a single moment of human recklessness can destroy a wonder so long wrought.

A lone acacia, known as the Tree of Ténéré, once stood defiantly in northeast Niger. For ages it lived companionless in the vast Sahara desert, the only tree for over 250 miles, until one day ...

Known simply as the Tree of Ténéré, this solitary sentinel was considered the most isolated tree on Earth, serving as a crucial waypoint for countless caravans crossing the harsh desert expanse.

The Most Isolated Tree in the World Was Killed by a (Probably Drunk) Driver The acacia was the only tree for 250 miles in Niger’s Sahara desert and was used as a landmark by travelers and caravans.