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Natural Monuments

Drago Milenario (Ancient Dragon Tree) of Icod de los Vinos

Natural Monuments

Drago Milenario (Ancient Dragon Tree) of Icod de los Vinos

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Drago Milenario (Ancient Dragon Tree) of Icod de los Vinos

Recommended by 136 hikers out of 145

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Location: Icod De Los Vinos, Norte De Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

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Best Hikes to Drago Milenario (Ancient Dragon Tree) of Icod de los Vinos

4.3

(23)

hikers

1. San Marcos Parish – Old Wash Place (1925) loop from Las Angustias

8.18km

02:40

370m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

3.5

(4)

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2. San Marcos Parish – Old Town of Icod de los Vinos loop from El Calvario

4.46km

01:19

140m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.1

(11)

hikers

3. Old Town of Icod de los Vinos – San Marcos Parish loop from La Mancha

7.84km

02:20

220m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

JR56

January 23, 2020

The Drago Milenario dragon tree in Icod de los Vinos is said to be 1000 years old.
According to botanists, however, it is only 500 to 600 years old. Its real age can only be estimated, as it is not actually a tree, but an agave plant, and these do not form annual rings from which one can determine the age.
It has a circumference of 6 meters and is 17 meters high, making it the largest and oldest dragon tree in the world.

In 1917, the dragon tree was declared a nature reserve and has since been one of the most famous landmarks of the island of Tenerife. It has been immortalized in many works of art and was even seen on the 1,000 peseta banknotes.
The indigenous Guanches worshipped it as a sacred tree and used its (blood) for various purposes. This blood of the dragon tree is the sap of the trunk, which turns blood red when it comes into contact with air. The sap was also used to embalm the dead and to dye or to heal in the Middle Ages, for example against leprosy.

The properties of the dragon tree have made it a legendary tree over the years. In the world of legend, it is considered a descendant of the dragon Ladón, who had 100 heads on his body. Ladón is said to have guarded the tree of youth. This bore 12 golden apples and stood in the Garden of the Hesperides. According to legend, Heracles came and cut off the heads of the dragon Lagón. He stole the precious apples of the tree of youth. The Garden of the Hesperides was located "in the west, where the sun sets". This meant the Canary Islands. The first dragon trees are said to have grown from the drops of blood of the dragon Ladón as a result of the dramatic event. :-)

teneriffaurlaub.es/attraktionen/drachenbaum-drago-milenario

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JR56

January 23, 2020

The dragon tree of Icod de los Vinos
“Icod de los Vinos” cannot be translated 100%. Icod dates back to the time of the Guanches, when the area was called Ycoden. Icod developed from this and through agriculture and wine growing Icod de los Vinos was created, which loosely translated means “beautiful place of wine”.
But the place is not only famous for its wines, but also for the oldest dragon tree on the island (Dracaena draco). Until recently it was said to be 3,000 years old, but this was corrected to 400 years. But that does not detract from its impulsive appearance. The dragon tree is not actually a tree, but comes from the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) and therefore does not form annual rings. It is therefore not possible to determine its age. Scientists have therefore determined the age to be 400 years, taking into account the branches and the intervals between the flowering periods.
The first flower spike appears after about 8 to 11 years, and the flowering period is from July to August. However, a flowering period only begins every 15 years. The branches then bear green-white flowers, which later blossom into brown-orange berries. Many legends and myths surround the tree. Many tourists come to the town to admire the tree.
It is over 16 m high and stretches its crown wide into the sky. Its trunk circumference is more than 6 m.
The dragon tree is not only the symbol of the wine town of “Icod de los Vinos”, but of the entire island of Tenerife.
It raises its crown venerably above the botanical garden, which is laid out at its roots. Native plants, gathered from all parts of the island, grow here. This includes the red tabaiba and the laurel trees typical of the island. The entrance to the park is the Dragon Tree House. There you can buy or try everything from souvenirs to free wine tastings to Canarian specialties. An additional entrance was subsequently opened, which leads through the newly discovered volcanic cave.
As the dragon tree is the symbol of the city, a lot has been and is being done to preserve it. The road next to the park has been diverted so that it no longer has to be exposed to avoidable environmental influences.

teneriffa-isla.de/drachenbaum

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Thorsten

January 2, 2017

The dragon tree is the landmark of Tenerife. The plant is not a tree in the traditional sense, but a gnarled asparagus or Agavegewächs. The tree only flowers every 15 years from July to August. The El Drago is located in a park that was created around it with island-typical plants and is one reason for the large rush of visitors in Icod de los Vinos. Do not miss this sight.

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 230 m

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Thursday 18 December

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Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

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Location: Icod De Los Vinos, Norte De Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

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Drago Milenario (Ancient Dragon Tree) of Icod de los Vinos

1. San Marcos Parish – Old Wash Place (1925) loop from Las Angustias

2. San Marcos Parish – Old Town of Icod de los Vinos loop from El Calvario

3. Old Town of Icod de los Vinos – San Marcos Parish loop from La Mancha

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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