Giant Sequoia

Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)

This unbelievable tree is a permanent resident of the Sequoia National Park just 45 minutes east of Fresno. This wonder of the world is the largest tree on Earth in mass. The largest specimen alive today is a tree named General Sherman and this gentleman is 275 feet tall with a diameter of 36 feet at its base, and believe it or not, scientists say it is still growing. The diameter at the base of its trunk is like 18 people joining hands around. The tree was named after General William T. Sherman, a soldier from the American civil war. This amazing species is unlike any other tree on Earth because it thrives on forest fires. As a matter of fact, it needs fires. Why? Because fire is what gives them the nutrients they need and it clears its surroundings of unwanted neighbors. The fire also opens the seed cones and the seeds are released from the inside. When they are released the ground is ready with large amounts of nutrients left by the fire and allows the seeds to germinate and take off. The thick bark, sometimes as thick as two feet, contains a natural chemical that makes it somewhat fireproof. It is common to see, after fires are contained, fallen trees on the ground whose wood is completely burned with only the cylinder shape of the tree formed of the unburned bark. The oldest documented Giant Sequoia has been estimated at 3,600 years old. General Sherman is been estimated to be 2,600 years old, so we can expect many more b-day cakes to come for this big guy.
The sequoias have been isolated to a small area near Tulare, California and grow at an altitude of 5,000 to 7,500 feet of elevation. Like the Coastal Redwoods, the Giant Sequoias were love at first sight for poachers and businessmen back in the day, but they soon found out that the Giant Sequoia shatters into a million pieces upon hitting the floor when cut. That is part of the reason why the Giant Sequoia has survived until today.

You can get a glimpse of this magnificent tree at Garfield Park here in the city of San Francisco. However, if you want to be blown out of your socks, plan a trip to Sequoia National Park. Four hours away, the memories are ones you are going to treasure for the rest of your life and that is worth the trip.