Sequoia is one of the largest trees on our planet. In the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, it was common in Europe and Asia, but now it has survived only in the mountains of California and Southern Oregon. These are relic plants of the pre-glacial period, they can be called living fossils.
Features
Giant sequoia (sequoiadendron, mammoth tree), named after the Iroquois leader, was completely unknown to Europeans until 1850. The grove of these gigantic trees was accidentally discovered by the Englishman Lobb.
Indians call sequoias "fathers of forests". This makes sense, since the described trees not only reach a height of 100-120 m, but also live surprisingly long. According to the annual rings on the oldest of them, it was found that they can reach an age of up to 3000 years.
Giant Sequoia belongs to the Taxodiev family (gymnosperms department). This is a coniferous tree with a lush crown. Although the beautiful and dense wood is highly valued, the opportunities for its use in the economy are small due to the extremely small number of sequoias. But it is used for decorative purposes. Landings of these giants can be found in Transcaucasia and on the southern coast of Crimea.
Sequoia or sequoiadendron?
Although these trees are very similar, there are differences between them.
Sequoias grow in northern California on a narrow coastal strip. They enjoy a humid climate with constant fogs. And the giant sequoia is found on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada ridge (at altitudes of 1.5-2 km). Sequoiadendron buds cannot open when damp. Dry and hot weather is required for seeding to emerge.
Forest fires, dangerous to all living things, for these trees can play the role of a catalyst for reproduction and growth. The buds burst open in the heat, and the seeds fall onto the soil already free of weeds. Mature trees, with their thick bark, do not suffer as much from fire as other plants. And the trunk of an old giant sequoia can contain up to 8,000 liters of water.
These giants are striking in their height. They compete with some types of eucalyptus for the title of the tallest trees. Sequoiadendrons are a little short of a hundred meters in height, but they are awe-inspiring with their thickness, reaching more than 10 m. No wonder they are called giant.
For example, the sequoia "General Sherman" has a trunk girth of more than 35 m. It would take more than 25 people to dance around such a giant! This tree has been considered the largest in the world since 1931.
Giant sequoias are centenarians. At the beginning of the 20th century, they were cut down because of valuable wood. The age of the trees was determined from the growth rings on the stumps. It turned out that some of them lived for about 3 thousand years! They were already growing when the Egyptians had just begunconstruction of the famous pyramids.
Giant sequoias have an extremely branched and powerful root system. The bark contains substances that repel bark beetles and other pests. They also have chemical protection against fungi and lichens.
General Sherman's tree
The National Park "Sequoia" was created in California (USA). Its main part is the "Forest of Giants" - a grove of the largest trees on the planet. Almost every instance has its own name. Among them, the most famous tree is General Sherman. It's just amazing. Sequoia "General Sherman" - the largest tree in the world. It is believed that its age is 2300-2700 years. The height is not the maximum for trees - "only" 84 m. But the volume of the giant, which is almost 1500 cubic meters, and the mass of about 2500 tons make it the largest living creature on the planet.
And this is not the limit, because sequoias grow throughout life. And they die not so much from old age, but from their gigantic size. There comes a point when the tree trunk can no longer hold a huge weight. It just breaks. And "General Sherman" continues to grow, increasing its diameter annually by at least one and a half centimeters. It is currently over 11.1m!
Such a grandiose tree attracts the exclusive attention of tourists. National Park "Sequoia" every year is visited by tens of thousands of people who want to see this wonder of the world, take picturesnext to him.
Named after a hero
General Sherman, after whom the tree is named, is a US national hero. During the Civil War, he was even more popular than General Grant. The most famous operation under the leadership of Sherman was the struggle for Atlanta, after which he accepted the surrender of the army of the southerners, led by Johnston. In 1869, the general succeeded Grant as commander in chief of the US forces.
In 1879, naturalist James Wolverton, who served as a lieutenant in Sherman's army during the Civil War, named the colossal tree after his favorite commander.
By the way, the second largest sequoia in the world is "General Grant".
Park Attractions
Besides the "Giant Forest" tourists are attracted by a log tunnel. In 1937, a giant sequoia fell across the road in the park, blocking the way for cars. To reopen the path, park workers had to cut a tunnel over 5 m wide and almost 2.5 m high. The tree was decided not to be removed, and it became one of the main attractions.
In the center of the park there is a Moro Rock granite hill, to the top of which there is a staircase. From the top there is a magnificent view of the entire "Forest of Giants". They are also attracted by numerous caves. True, all of them are closed to the public, except for one.
The beautiful park and its gigantic trees are now in danger. The ongoing drought in California in recent years has caused numerous fires,which even the most powerful sequoias cannot resist. And the lack of moisture in the soil makes it difficult for young shoots to appear. Unfortunately, these centenarians may disappear from the face of the Earth.
