The Giant Sequoia Tree - Nature's Largest Living Thing

If you have never seen one it is quite a site to behold. The Giant Sequoia tree is truly a marvel of nature. The tree can grow to a height of over 300 feet and some can have a diameter of over 30 feet at their base. Some Giant Sequoias are known to be over 3,200 years old making them among the oldest living organisms on the planet.

The trees have are only found in their natural environment in the western Sierra Nevada mountains in California. Experimental plantings have been started in places such as Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York and Vermont, but of course none of these trees even comes close to the size of the ones you will find in California.

I have had the privilege to see the Grizzly Giant in the Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park and it is incredible. The base measures 28 feet in diameter and the first branch on the tree is about 100 feet up and is 6 feet in diameter. Here are some pictures of Giant Sequoias below taken by various people and posted at Flickr.com. Enjoy them, but try to make a trip to California some day to see the real thing.

Recent Uploads tagged sequoia and tree

The Daniel J. Evans Tree

earball* posted a photo:

Somehow, I only recently discovered that there is a sequia right in downtown Olympia named for former Governor Daniel J Evans. Oddly, it's a Sequoia sempervirens or coast redwood, a species that isn't native anywhere in Washington State. A strange choice for a man so strongly identified with state politics, but a magnificent tree. Stitch from multiple photographs.

Kings Canyon National Park

bpbp Brian Petersen posted a photo:

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses regarding this image.
© 2010 Brian Petersen

Kings Canyon National Park

bpbp Brian Petersen posted a photo:

Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses regarding this image.
© 2010 Brian Petersen

IMG_0961roadtrip_2010

kentkessinger posted a photo:

IMG_0922roadtrip_2010roadtrip_2010

kentkessinger posted a photo:

IMG_0956roadtrip_2010

kentkessinger posted a photo:

Boole Tree fire scar

Anapaest posted a photo:

The Boole tree has more character, even if it is only #6. It's about the last big one in the Converse Basin.

Sherman

Anapaest posted a photo:

The biggest.

Sequoia Tree at Yosemite National Park

Moonheart posted a photo:

big tree

LunaMoona posted a photo:

Day 20/365

sparkleanimesh posted a photo:

A fallen sequoia tree as viewed from the root's end. The sequoia are the tallest living creatures in the world.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoia_sempervirens

Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM
Exposure: 1/4 sec
Aperture: f/16
Focal Length: 13 mm
ISO Speed: 100

general sherman - the biggest tree

0r0g0b posted a photo:

in fact, there are three biggest trees. height, weight, volume. this one is the volume one.

secuoya gigante de La Granja

VilBer posted a photo:

En los jardines de La Granja (Segovia) hay dos ejemplares majestuosos de secuoya gigante conocidos como el Rey y la Reina, datados en 1867. El Rey tiene 43 metros de altura y 13,42 de perímetro, la Reina medía 42 metros de altura hasta que en 1992 fue alcanzada por un rayo perdiendo más de 3 metros por lo que en la actualidad mide 38,5 m. y 10,92 de perímetro. Para evitar que se vuelva a producir algo parecido, han sido instalados pararrayos sobre estos árboles.

In the gardens of La Granja (Segovia) are two majestic giant sequoia known as the King and Queen, dated 1867. The King is 43 m tall and 13.42 meters in circumference, the Queen measured 42 meters until 1992, when it was struck by a lightning losing more than 3 meters.

Giants

sea_fox posted a photo: