The world's oldest living creatures are astonishing! Among them is even a species that is 200,000 years old.

In nature, some living beings can reach ages that are hard to believe when compared to human lifespans. While some continue to grow in the same place for thousands of years, others sustain their existence by giving new migrations thanks to shared root systems. Despite wars, natural disasters, and harsh climatic conditions, these survivors showcase nature's resilience.

According to information compiled by Gazete Oksijen, among the world's oldest living beings there are fascinating examples ranging from a bird to giant turtles, from trees that have stood for thousands of years to massive sea marshes. Here are 10 extraordinary creatures that stand out for their ages.

1. The world's oldest bird: Wisdom, 75 years old

The Laysan albatross named Wisdom, which returns annually to Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, stands out as one of the oldest wild birds known. Wisdom, first recorded in 1956, is estimated to have surpassed 75 years.

It is said that the albatross, which is believed to have flown millions of miles over its life, has raised at least 30 offspring. Its long life and the migrations it has maintained over the years make Wisdom one of the most striking examples in the bird world.

2. The turtle Jonathan, about 194 years old

Jonathan, who lives on Saint Helena Island in the South Atlantic, is believed to have been born around 1832. The giant tortoise, about 194 years old, is known as the world's oldest land animal.

Jonathan, brought to the island in 1882, has been living in the same area for about a century and a half. The tortoise, which has witnessed the changes of many generations, is among the most well‑known examples of long‑lived animals.

3. The 1,200‑year‑old rose that survived World War II.

The shrub growing beside the Church of the Virgin Mary in Hildesheim, Germany, and known as the 1,200‑year‑old Rose is thought to be about 1,200 years old. The plant, which can reach heights of more than nine metres, is one of the city's important symbols.

One of the remarkable features of the rose shrub is that it survived the bombing during World War II. While the cathedral was largely destroyed, the damaged plant grew again from the wreckage. The rose that still exists today is cited as a striking example of nature’s resilience against harsh conditions.

4. The tree associated with Buddha's enlightenment.

The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree located in the city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, is estimated to be about 2,300 years old. The sacred fig tree, believed to have been propagated from a branch taken from the Bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment in India, holds great significance for Buddhists.

The tree, believed to have been planted around 250 BCE, is considered one of the oldest trees whose history can be traced through historical records. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, visited for centuries, stands out both as a natural and cultural heritage.

5. An olive tree that has been producing olives for thousands of years

The olive tree located in the village of Vouves on the island of Crete, Greece, is estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old. With a trunk that has become twisted and thickened over time, the tree continues to bear olives despite its advanced age.

With a history spanning thousands of years, the tree is one of the region's important natural heritage sites and hosts a large number of visitors each year. Its continued vitality despite its age illustrates the long‑lived nature of olive trees.

6. The slowly growing plant of the Andean Mountains: Yareta

The yareta that grows in the high elevations of the And Mountains resembles a rock slab covered with moss at first glance. However, this unusual plant is among long‑lived species that can withstand freezing cold, drought, and harsh winds.

The large specimens of the extremely slow‑growing yareta are thought to live for thousands of years. Its use as fuel in the past is cited as one of the factors that caused the plant to decline in some regions.

7. Methuselah, older than the pyramids

Methuselah, a bristlecone pine located in the White Mountains of California, United States, is estimated to be about 5,000 years old. Existing as a single tree, Methuselah ranks among the world’s oldest known trees.

When the tree began to grow, the Egyptian pyramids had not yet been built. Despite harsh climatic conditions, the tree has survived for thousands of years, and its exact location is kept secret to prevent damage.

8. Sea sponges that can live for thousands of years in Antarctica

Sea sponges of the species Anoxycalyx joubini, which live around McMurdo Sound in Antarctica, attract attention with their extraordinary longevity. Some estimates suggest that these sponges can reach ages of up to 15,000 years. However, due to difficulties in measuring their growth rates and ages, these figures are not definitive.

Slow‑growing sponges in cold waters are part of the important components of marine ecosystems. These organisms demonstrate that long‑lived life forms are not limited to land.

9. The 80,000‑year‑old forest regarded as a single organism: Pando

Pando, located in the state of Utah in the United States, covers a vast area of about 50,000 fragile poplar stems. Because the trees are genetically identical and arise from a shared root system, Pando is regarded as a single organism.

This massive organism, estimated to be about 80,000 years old, spreads over an area of more than 40 hectares. The trunks that appear as independent trees on the surface persist underground as parts of the same organism.

Pando is one of the most striking examples showing that the concept of a single organism is not limited to a single trunk.

10. Mediterranean seagrass estimated to reach 200,000 years old

One of the oldest specimens on the list, the Positonia oceanica seagrass found near Spain's Balear Adaları. Genetic studies suggest that this organism could be about 200,000 years old.

This Mediterranean‑specific sea plant spreads across large areas of the seabed, providing habitat for marine life. Seagrasses that grow and spread through their roots and rhizomes also play an important role in protecting the marine ecosystem.

This organism, believed to be about 200,000 years old, shows that longevity in nature can reach dimensions that even humans find hard to imagine.