When the Argentinian locals give a name to a tree, you know it’s got to be something special. And the Gomero de la Recoleta really is something: it’s not just any nondescript tree you might find along the sidewalk, or even a grand old specimen in some public park. It’s a behemoth rubber tree that has practically taken on a mind of its own, with a majestic 50-metre wide crown that even its own massive branches and roots can barely uplift. The municipality has had to specially place wooden supports beneath its huge branches to prevent them from breaking. There is even a giant statue of a man whose iron hands carry one of the branches, earning him the name ‘Atlas of Recoleta,’ in reference to the mythical figure who carried the weight of the world. From a distance, the overall effect of the tree is something like a wise and benevolent old man, who has seen the city grow to maturity. A visit there will leave you in awe of its ancient visage.