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the miracle pine is a tree that survived 2011 japanese tsunami which then started dying six months ago, it has now been rebuilt as statue in honor of the 19,000 victims of the disaster
AP photo/kyodo news
this week marks the second anniversary of the 2011 tsunami in rikuzentakata, northeastern japan that killed 19,000 people on march 11 -
with the 'miracle pine', located in iwate prefecture, being rebuilt as a 27-meter monument in honor of the victims.
the lone pine was the only one from approximately 70,000 plants along the coast to survive the catastrophe, however,
its roots were found to be suffering irreversibly from exposure to seawater, triggering endeavors to save the tree, which has become a
symbol of the city's reconstruction. the trunk and branches were dissected into 9 sections last september in order to prevent decay -
the parts have now been hollowed out and and reassembled with a carbon spine in order to complete the restoration at
its original site. the plant stands as a symbol of hope in japan, and is now completed as an immortalized statue, the entire process
said to cost approximately 150 million yen.

the parts have now been hollowed out and and reassembled with a carbon spine in order to complete the restoration at its original site
AP photo/shizuo kambayashi

the lone pine was the only one from approximately 70,000 plants along the coast to survive the catastrophe
AP photo/ david guttenfelder
Nature care nature
A magnificent monument, from a civilized nation. It’s been said that only god can make a tree but certainly man can repurpose it, make it better. I would visit this tree when I am in Japan.
I’d like to know and understand now IS THE TREE STILL ALIVE? Or is the a reconstructed imitation with a CARBONE core? Thank you.