In Yakut and Altai Turks, the tree of life is also called the Iron Tree. According to the old Turkish tradition, this is a tree that connects the Earth from its middle (navel) to the beyond-realm and to the Iron-Pile Star (Pole Star), allowing shamans to travel from the earth to the higher realms through its branches. According to the shamanistic tradition, the world is in contact with the "navel of the sky" through this tree and is fed by this tree. Just as the umbilical cord is of vital importance for a baby in the womb, this communication channel is equally important for the earth.