Sulaimani university earns Guinness record for longest tree sentence

SULAIMANI,— The University of Sulaimani in Iraq’s Kurdistan region officially entered the Guinness World Records on Thursday after creating the world’s longest sentence formed by living plants, using 6,000 myrtle trees, the university spelled out its name across a hillside on its campus.

The massive green installation, which reads “University of Sulaimani,” covers approximately 3,600 square meters and stretches 180 meters in length.

The project was carried out over three months by four faculty members from the university’s College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences.

The official record was achieved on August 5 and announced during a ceremony on September 3 attended by Guinness officials.

The achievement more than doubles the previous record, held by Nissan Middle East. The automotive company spelled out a phrase from the UAE national anthem in Arabic using 2,507 Sidr trees in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, in 2023.

Team members selected myrtle trees for their ability to withstand the region’s challenging climate. Hemin Azeema, a university lecturer on the project, explained that the plants must endure pruning and shaping while remaining suitable for local conditions.

“Myrtle is an evergreen that tolerates harsh weather and minimal irrigation,” Azeema said.

The project was carried out in partnership with the South Kurdistan Group, a local conglomerate comprising more than a dozen companies.

Yadgar Fayaq, the company’s communication director, said the achievement required extensive coordination, with expert botanists overseeing tree health and long-term growth potential throughout the process.

University President Kosar Mohammed Ali described the project as part of broader efforts to strengthen the institution’s international standing while creating a distinctive link between people and nature.

The initiative also drew support from the Sulaimani Governorate and the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Sulaimani Governor Haval Abubakir said the achievement belongs to the entire Kurdistan Region.

Placing the city on the global innovation map, he said, helps preserve Kurdish heritage while changing perceptions of the region from one of dependency to one that contributes to international sustainability efforts.

The University of Sulaimani, founded in 1968 and known as the “mother university,” is the oldest university in the Kurdistan Region.

The record is the latest in a series of environmental initiatives at the institution, which has increasingly emphasized climate-change action and global engagement in recent years.

On its official website, Guinness World Records commended the achievement for pairing “environmental awareness with a lasting display that promotes sustainability and green spaces on campus.”

(With files from Agencies)