the story of maria gorda, the sacred baobab, tells of a young sapling from manaus, planted in 1907 by dr. josé caetano de almeida gomes. planted on the praia dos tamoios more than 100 years ago, she grew so fast and so fat that she earned the nickname she still unabashedly wears to this day.

she has earned it, having already grown more than 9 feet across with no signs of slowing down; the baobab, native of west africa, can live for 300 years and reach 225 feet into the air on a 25 food diameter trunk.

the venerated tree - famously mentioned in antoine de san exupery's the little prince - is one of precious few outside of the african continent, and draws devotees of all traditions and persuasions to the island in tribute.