In northwest Colombia lies Valle de Cocora, an Andean ravine lying at over 2,000 meters (6,561 ft) in elevation. When explorer Alexander von Humboldt first passed through this valley in 1801 he observed palm trees native to the area that would look down upon other species around the globe: the Ceroxylon quindiuense. Better known as the Quindio wax palm, it is the national tree of Colombia, as well as the tallest palm tree in the world; its narrow trunk lifting the crown to incredible heights of 60 meters (197 ft) or more.