From a distance, the Great Banyan Tree in the Indian Botanic Garden appears to be a whole forest. It is only when you step into its shade that you see the connection of branches and realize it is one tree.

With a canopy that spreads over 14,400 square meters (155,000 square feet), the Great Banyan Tree is the widest tree in the world. From this span, more than 2,800 aerial prop roots descend down into the earth, appearing like individual trees. It’s the main draw of the botanical garden, and although no one knows its exact origin, it has been showing up in guidebooks since the 1800s.

It has taken over 250 years to reach this staggering size, and not without a few natural disasters that almost did in the whole giant arboreal wonder. In the 19th century, two cyclones hit the tree, breaking it open and exposing its main trunk which led to a damaging fungal attack. By 1925, the main trunk, which once measured over 50 feet wide, had to be removed. Yet as the sign at the tree states: “Interestingly enough, the tree now lives in perfect vigor without its main trunk.”

The average Walmart covers 105,000 square feet.

A soccer field is 100-120 yards X 60-80 yards: at the large end of the range, 360 ft X 240 ft equals 8640 square feet.

Floor area of the White House (total of 6 floors) is approximately 55,000 square feet.

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