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What is Yggdrasil?

In Norse mythology Yggdrasil is the World Tree. It is an ash tree which supports the Nine Worlds and has three roots. The first holds the Well of Wyrd where the Norn sisters decide the fate of men, engraving them on the runes. The second reaches the well of Mimir where Odin gave up one of his eyes to gain wisdom and communication skills. The last root goes to the Well of Helvelgamar where the monster Niddhogg spends its time gnawing at the tree root.

According to the Poetic Edda, Yggdrasil is under constant attack -

"The hardships endured by Yggdrasil
Are more than men can dream of:
Harts bite the twigs, the trunk rots,
Niddhogg gnaws at the roots"

It survives only because of the attention it receives from the Norns who ensure it is regularly watered from the Well of Wyrd.

The god Odin found the runes at the roots of Yggdrasil having been impailed on the tree for nine days and nights. The tree plays a central role in the mythology linking the worlds and past, present and future (as represented by the Norns):

Glad and Gyllir, Gler, Skeidbrimir
Silfrintop and Sinir,
Gisl, Falhofnir, Gulltop, Lettfeti,
Are the steeds astride which the gods
Ride each day to deal out fates
From Yggdrasil the ash tree

Forever linked to the gods, inevitably Yggdrasil will play its own part in Ragnarok when the gods face their final destiny -

Yggdrasil trembles, the towering ash
Groans in woe; the wolf is loose.