The Mēri Great Oak has been measured many times, and for several decades has been considered the tree with the widest crown in the entire Baltic region. It is considered a strong guardian of the region, a witness to history, and a bearer of blessings, symbolically reflecting the endurance, strength, wisdom, and beauty of local people.

The most recent measurements were taken on 13 June 2024 by Guntis Eniņš. Crown projection measurements:

• North: 16.6 m
• South: 17 m
• East: 22.2 m
• West: 16.8 m

Thus, the East-West crown diameter: 39 m; the North-South crown diameter: 33.6 m;

• Trunk circumference: 5.86 m

An additional and rarely used measurement has also been recorded – the crown projection area, which is 0.1 hectares.

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The legend

The Mēri Great Oak may be mentioned in a legend explaining the origin of the name “Mēri” Village. According to legend, after the Great Northern War, when all of Vidzeme lay in ruins, the Plague (Mēris) ravaged the land. It rode on a black horse, dressed in red garments with a black top hat. In every house he entered, all the people had perished. The Plague was especially fond of the area around the present-day village of Mēri, as it was far more forested and swampy than the neighbouring villages. A large pack of wolves always followed in its wake. In this region, the Plague destroyed all living beings, except for one man and his wife, who survived by climbing up a tall, broad oak tree. Once all the others had perished, the Plague set off to another place. The area was later named Mēri Rural Territory in memory of the devastation that occurred here. Only after many decades and centuries did the descendants of the surviving couple repopulate the area, becoming the ancestors of today’s inhabitants of Mēri.