The Whistler

Category: Nature > Park

District: Setúbal > Palmela > Águas de Moura > Assobiador

Location

The "Sobreiro Assobiador" (Whistling Cork Oak) is serenely located in the area that gave it its name, the Assobiador urbanization, in the locality of Águas de Moura. This area, situated in the municipality of Palmela, in the district of Setúbal, offers a tranquil environment, where the presence of this remarkable tree shapes the local landscape.

The area surrounding the cork oak has undergone interventions to ensure its protection and provide a pleasant place for visitors to observe and contemplate it.

A Natural Monument

This cork oak, known as "O Assobiador," is recognized worldwide for its imposing stature. It is estimated to be 234 years old, having been planted in 1783. Its dimensions are truly remarkable, exceeding 16 meters in height and boasting a trunk perimeter of over 5 meters at its base, culminating in a lush canopy that reaches almost 30 meters in diameter. Its grandeur earned it inclusion in the famous Guinness World Records as one of the largest cork oaks in the world.

In addition to its international recognition, "O Assobiador" is classified as a "Tree of Public Interest" in Portugal, a status that reflects its importance and the need for careful conservation of this natural heritage.

The Name and its Legacy

The designation "Assobiador" is not by chance. It is inspired by the many songbirds that inhabit its vast branches, whose chirps resemble whistling, filling the air with their melody. Furthermore, it is also locally known as the "matchmaking cork oak," due to the tradition of it being a meeting and gathering point, where stories and courtships were once woven.

The "Assobiador" holds significant cultural and economic importance, serving as a symbol of the Portuguese forest. In 1991, a single debarking of this tree produced approximately 1200 kilograms of cork, enough to produce over one hundred thousand stoppers, a quantity that most cork oaks do not achieve in their entire existence. This resilience and productivity are a testament to the vitality and importance of the cork oak for the country, also due to its ability to coexist with other species and contribute to more robust forest ecosystems.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt