Giant Sequoia by danapommet
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Description
This is part of a grove of Giant Sequoia. These trees are enormous and there are only a few left. They are among the largest trees in the world. On a later visit, I noticed that people were not allowed to stand where I am standing. Thousands upon thousands of people walking among these giants was damaging the root systems.
The Giant Sequoia National Monument now encompasses 353,000 acres. The Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron Giganteum) are the world's largest trees. It occurs naturally only in a narrow 60-mile band of mixed conifer forest generally between the 5,000-8,000 foot elevation, on the west slope, of the Sierra Nevada Range. There are 65-75 groves of sequoias in the Sierras and 33 sequoia groves in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Amazing, giant sequoia is one of the largest organisms on earth and grows from a seed less than half an inch long! When fully grown, the sequoia pushes its craggy tree top more than 250 feet into the sky. A few rare specimens have grown taller than 300 feet. But it is the sequoia's huge girth that sets it apart from all other trees. Sequoias are commonly more than 20 feet in diameter and at least one has grown to 35 feet across. Six people would have to lay head-to-toe to match this distance. For centuries, the sequoia was known only by the Native Americans, and was not seen by European descendants until the mid-1800s. Info from the Sequoia web site.
This photo taken in the early 1980s and recently scanned.
Thanks for stopping by, taking a look and for all your previous favs and comments. They are very much appreciated.
Dana
Comments (19)
Madbat
My God, that's what I call a tree! I take it they can't thrive very well anywhere else? Has anyone ever tried to transplant them?
danapommet
Hey Madbat - I do not know about transplanting them but I seem to remember that they were selling a packet of a single seed at the gift shop. Dana
kbrog
And how long does it take to grow to that size? ;D Great capture!
Faemike55
Wonderful capture and great information
beachzz
Transplanting them doesn't work too well--they need a very specific environment to grow. Great shot!!
MagikUnicorn
BEAUTY
Chipka
WOW! It's a shame that they need such a limited environmental range for growth; at least that's my theory...animals that transport the seeds would clearly have broadened their range, so maybe these giants are like those European pigmy buffalo that live in ONE small patch of an old growth forest. As for these beauties! WOW! They're not only impressive, but quite gorgeous. I hope that others CAN grow, it would be a shame to lose such a treasure! This is a marvelous shot and a part of a really intriguing series. And yeah, I still can't get over how short you look standing under the carved out bit of a fallen brother to these trees. WOW!
jendellas
Flipping heck, they are magnificent, thanks for this pic Dana!!!!
Hubert
Impressive! These must be the biggest bonsai trees, ever found! ;)
durleybeachbum
So glad you showed us the real scale!
Texas3D
Woow welcome to the land of giants;) nice catch
DAVER2112
Nature is so amazing just like this shot. :)
MrsRatbag
I have one of those souvenir seed packets; I have also purchased a sequoia seedling at a nursery in California, and it grew when I planted it--for a while. It didn't like the climate in Concord, I guess. Too hot, too dry? At any rate, I haven't planted the seed, I guess I'll just keep it.
lucindawind
they are amazing ! love these shots
jmb007
tres jolie!!
mgtcs
This is the best Dana, splendid place, really magical!
jocko500
that a big tree. cool shot
goodoleboy
Excellent capture and information. Yes, it's been many years since I walked among these magnificent multi thousand-year-old arboreal giants.
Thelby
Their cones on the trees can reach over 3 feet in length, (1 Meter) and are the reason Chicken Little thought the sky was falling when hit in the head by one of those massive cones!!! Nice Shot,............. really!!!!!