LONGWOOD, Fla. — A nonprofit organization that finds and archives samples of the world's largest and oldest trees has plans to scale a 2,000-year-old tree in central Florida.
The Archangel Ancient Tree Archive plans to collect a sample for cloning from the 89-foot-tall "Lady Liberty" tree on Monday.
The bald cypress tree is located in Big Tree Park in Longwood, the same Seminole County park where the approximately 3,500-year-old tree known as "The Senator" burned down in 2012. Officials said it burned down when Sara Barnes started a fire while smoking meth.
Photos: 'The Senator' before and after images
The Archangel Ancient Tree Archive aims to create living genetic libraries by cloning landmark trees through horticultural propagation for future research and reforestation efforts.
The "Lady Liberty" tree has a 10-foot diameter and a 32-foot circumference.