Angel Oak Tree Southern Live Oak Quercus Virginiana Charleston South Carolina Stock Photography

The Angel Oak Tree is a Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) located in Angel Oak Park on Johns Island near Charleston, South Carolina. The Angel Oak Tree is estimated to be at least 400 and possibly up to 1400 years old[citation needed]. It stands 66.5 ft (20 m) tall, measures 28 ft (8.5 m) in circumference, and produces shade that covers 17,200 square feet (1,600 m2). Its longest branch distance is 187 ft.[1] in length. Angel Oak was the 210th tree to be registered with the Live Oak Society.[2][3] This historic tree is a tourist attraction for people visiting the South Carolina Area. The tree stands on land that was part of Abraham Waight's 1717 land grant. The oak derives its name from the estate of Justis and Martha Angel, and local folklore tells stories of ghosts of former slaves appearing as angels around the tree.[5][6] Despite the popular belief that the Angel Oak is the oldest tree east of the Mississippi River, there are many bald cypress trees throughout the south which are many hundreds of years older.