The mainland where the long-lived sequoia tree grows. Sequoia is the largest tree in the world. The maximum height of an evergreen sequoia

The park is world famous for its giant sequoias. One of them is the General Sherman Tree - the largest tree on Earth. This tree grows in the Giant Forest, which also contains five of the ten largest trees in the world by volume of wood. In addition, the Park has a number of other attractions. The most popular of them is Tunnel Log - a small car tunnel cut right in the middle of a giant sequoia that has fallen on the road.

Sequoia National Park is located in the southern part of the Sierra Nevada, California. The area of the park is 1635 sq km. It is known for the fact that on its territory there are the highest, giant sequoia trees. They got their name in honor of the leader of the Cherokee Sequoia Indians. The park has a mountainous terrain, rising from a height of about 400 m above sea level in the foothills, to the top of the highest mountain in the neighboring 48 states, Mount Whitney, 4,421.1 m high. In addition to unique trees, the Park is also famous for its caves. There are about 250 of them here, one of which stretches for 32 kilometers in length. For tourists, only one cave is open - Crystal, the second largest in the Park.

The fossil specimens found give us an idea that sequoias existed in the Jurassic period and occupied vast territories in the Northern Hemisphere. Now they can only be found in California and Southern Oregon. Redwoods feel comfortable here because they love the moisture that sea fogs bring from the Pacific Ocean. Usually, giant sequoias reach a height of 100 m, up to 11 m in diameter. The average life expectancy of this huge living organism is 4 thousand years. The bark of the trees is thick, fibrous, not amenable to combustion. When touched, the palm seems to sink into the wood, creating unusual sensations.

Established in 1890 to protect forests formed by redwoods. Two types of sequoias grow here: giant and evergreen (mahogany). These are huge trees - more than 100 m in height and up to 10 m in girth, their age reaches 2-4 thousand years.

Sequoias - these giant trees are represented by two species - the evergreen sequoia and the giant sequoiadendron or mammoth tree. Their height reaches up to 100 meters, and the diameter is up to 10 meters. Sequoias are known for their age - a tree can live up to 4,000 years. The unique combination of age, size and weight of these trees makes them the largest living creatures on Earth today. And this is one of the few trees that has adapted to forest fires. The giant sequoia is second in life expectancy only to the bristlecone pines that are found in the arid mountains of the Sierra Nevada.

The park's most popular tree is the General Sherman tree, which is located in the Giant Forest. This is the largest tree in the world, whose height is 81 meters, the diameter at the base is about 32 meters, and its age is about 3 thousand years. The Forest of the Giants contains five of the ten largest trees in the world by volume. The forest is connected by the Generals Road to the Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park, where another attraction of the park is located - the General Grant tree.

Tunnel Log - a small car tunnel cut right in the middle of a giant sequoia that fell on the road.

(as it is also commonly called) is rightfully considered one of the largest trees in the world. Also, this long-liver is one of the many wonders of the world. This giant coniferous tree can reach a height of more than 110 meters, and its trunk is 12 meters in diameter. miracle of nature is simply unthinkable. The giant sequoia lives for over 5,000 years.

History of occurrence

To date, scientists have come to the conclusion that a tree of this breed appeared on earth as early as 140 million years ago. This is proved by the found and studied fossils and other geological deposits, on the basis of which it is possible to calculate the approximate period of the appearance of a huge natural creature on Earth.

In ancient times, the sequoia spread to the territories that today are known as France, Japan, and even the Giant Tree existed already in the Jurassic period, when the planet was inhabited by dinosaurs, and even then forests occupied vast territories in the northern hemisphere. According to experts, 50 million years ago, due to the fact that the temperature on Earth dropped dramatically, the ice age began. The giant sequoia has stopped spreading across the planet and its range has greatly decreased. After warming, these trees remained at the same stage of development and remained to grow in only one region.

The first giant sequoias were discovered by the Spaniards, who in 1769 sent an expedition to the area of present-day San Francisco. Mammoth trees got their name from the linguist and botanist S. Endlifer, who was the first to call them "red trees". Initially, no one knew what to do with these huge centenarians. They were practically not exploited, this is due to the fact that strong trunks were almost impossible to knock down, since neither an ax nor a saw took them. On top of that, the wood turned out to be absolutely unsuitable for construction, as, for example, pine trees or other giant sequoias were even exterminated in 1848. By the time more than half of the trees had already been destroyed, the US authorities decided to start protecting the amazing creations of nature.

Our days

Today, natural sequoia forests are considered public property, but they have survived only on the Pacific coast of California. The mammoth tree also grows on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. This is the only place where the remains of amazing and beautiful forest giants are still preserved. This reserve covers an area of about 670 kilometers of the coast and about 45 kilometers inland. The giant sequoia does not grow high in the mountains, because it requires high humidity. Nevertheless, the mammoth tree copes well with low temperatures, which just helped this wonder of the world to survive during the ice age.

Every year, thousands of tourists come to the United States who want to be photographed at the foot of the tree. The reserve, where the giant sequoia grows, is also popular with the Americans, who even named one such giant after the famous American commander. This giant is protected, like any other monument, and is a cultural asset throughout America. Despite the interest from scientists, it is not cut down under any pretext.

Tree "General Sherman"

The giant sequoia "General Sherman" grows in the Sierra Nevada and is considered one of the most amazing plants on earth. The height of the tree is more than 83 meters, and its trunk volume is 1486 cubic meters with a weight of more than 6000 tons. According to rough estimates, the tree is somewhere around 2700 years old, and it still continues to grow. Every year, the giant builds up as much wood as an 18-meter tree can. Scientists still continue to study the only one in the world that has seen the entire history of mankind in its lifetime.

Another famous giant

In addition to the "General Sherman" in the reserve there is another amazing tree - a giant sequoia (sequoiadendron). California, where it was cut down, still preserves the foundation of the giant. Moreover, it was also honored by becoming the unspoken symbol of the state. The tree was cut down in 1930 at the age of 1930! On its core, some sectors are combined with paint and the following is written on them:

1066 - year
1212 - year of signing
1492 - the year of the discovery of America.
1776 - the year of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
1930 is the year of felling.

Description of sequoia

The tree has a thick bark, the thickness of which is 60 cm. Wood moisture is completely free of oily substances, but tannin is contained in large quantities, making it resistant to any forest fires. Even burned trunks continue to grow further, while other conifers die after such lesions. The wood of this tree is not subject to attacks by insects, fungi, diseases and rot. Its roots grow so deep in the ground that the chance of the tree falling in a strong gust of wind is zero. The giant sequoia, whose pictures and photographs are amazing, has a pinkish bark that becomes redder closer to the core. It does not rot for a long time, withstands huge loads and therefore is excellent for a wide variety of purposes, although it is not actively used.

reproduction

An adult sequoia tree produces a huge amount of seeds, but only a tiny part of them germinate successfully, and even those that have made their way through the ground are forced to fight for their lives. The fact is that young shoots branch along their entire length, but the older they get, the more lower branches they have. Thus, the tree forms a strong dome that absolutely does not let in daylight. The giant sequoia forests do not allow anything to grow under this green canopy. Therefore, young shoots have to deal with low light, therefore it is very difficult to talk about the natural distribution of mammoth trees on earth. In the event that humanity will actively use such wood, there will be a need to create special reserves in which young trees will be grown.

The only species of the genus is red or evergreen sequoia. It is the symbol of the US state of California. Known throughout the world for its gigantic size and rot-resistant wood.

Sequoia is considered the tallest tree on the planet. It belongs to the genus of coniferous plants, which means it is also one of the most ancient plants.

During the excavations, it was found that the first redwoods appeared on earth about 208 million years ago and occupied vast territories in the northern hemisphere.

Nowadays, sequoia is found freely in the state of California. This tree is not widely used because it needs a lot of water for normal growth, so it does not go far from the ocean coast.

At the moment, the current record for the tallest tree is 115.5 meters.

For the first time this plant was found in the coastal zone of the Pacific Ocean. For the color of its wood, the sequoia received the first name "mahogany", which is still known. A little later, this plant was bred into a separate species.

For the excellent qualities of wood sequoia gained wide popularity and began to be used for the manufacture of various products.

The sequoia has a conical crown, the branches are horizontal or slightly inclined downward. The thickness of the bark is very large and can reach 30 cm, fibrous, relatively soft, immediately after removal, the color is red-brown, and fades over time.

The root system is shallow, consists of lateral roots. The size of the leaves does not exceed 20-30 mm in length. They have a flat and elongated shape in young trees.

Sequoia care

Decorative sequoia is very demanding on the amount of moisture in the soil, it is necessary to constantly monitor its level. Dry soil is very harmful to the plant.

Throughout the entire period of life, decorative sequoia needs mineral fertilizers. You need to monitor the level of lighting, on a hot day the plant can absorb a lot of water, so it needs to be watered regularly.

Sequoia breeding

Initially, the sequoia did not grow in our climate, but thanks to the efforts of landscapers and dendrologists, species resistant to a cool climate appeared. Redwood propagation is possible by germinating very small seeds.

These seeds are stored in cones. One cone can contain from 150 to 200 seeds. After lengthy experiments, an adult sequoia began to withstand frosts from 18 to 20 degrees.

Vegetative propagation is also possible: by grafting and cuttings. The vitality of the sequoia has been perfected over thousands of years.

This tree can easily sprout from an old stump or sprout hundreds of offshoots from a fallen trunk. Such a rapid renewal was made possible by the awakening of dormant kidneys.

Sequoia planting

Sequoia should be planted in a nutrient substrate, it is advisable to use growth stimulants. It is possible, but not necessary, to lay a layer of coarse sand at the bottom of the landing pit. Young specimens need to be covered for the winter or grown in greenhouses.

Sequoias can be planted in the spring, from April to May. The plant is very sensitive to transplants, so it is advisable to keep an earthen ball on the roots and perform all actions in a short period of time.

The use of sequoia in the garden

Due to its large size, the sequoia is often used as a tapeworm in parks. It is not recommended to land in small areas. Decorative forms of sequoia are often used for bonsai gardens.

Video "Sequoia - the largest tree in the world"

Many thousands of years ago, most of the Earth's territories were covered with forests with huge trees and plants. Studies have shown that giant trees existed 200-150 million years ago, during the Jurassic period.

From the time of the dinosaurs to the present day, giant and evergreen sequoias have survived. evergreen sequoia Sequoia Sempervirens- the largest tree on our planet. The usual height of a sequoia is about 90 meters, but some specimens stretch over 100 meters in height. The sequoia is a long-lived tree and can live up to 3,000 years.

Sequoia wood is valuable because neither fungi nor insects take it.

The largest sequoia bears the name "General Sherman". The height of the tree is almost 84 meters. This tree is about 2300-2700 years old, scientists cannot determine the exact age, because the age of a tree can only be determined by sawing it with rings. General Sherman is the largest tree in the world in terms of timber volume. The volume of the trunk is regarded as 1487 cubic meters. The weight of the giant reached 1910 tons.

Sequoia "General Sherman" is considered the largest of the currently growing, its height is almost 84 meters, and its age is 2300-2700 years

In 2006, the tallest sequoia was found - " Hyperion". The height of the tree has reached 115,5 meters. But the growth of the tree was slowed down by woodpeckers, who damaged the very top of the tree. According to researchers, the age of the tree is 700-800 years.

Biologists use special ropes to climb the Hyperion, the tallest sequoia.

There is evidence that in 1912 a sequoia was cut down, which reached 115.8 meters in height.

It's hard to imagine how much effort it took to cut down a tree of this size.

The best of the decorations of our planet can be called its diverse flora - shrubs, trees and grasses of various types and different, sometimes record-breaking heights. These record holders include well-known Australian eucalyptus trees. Without these green giants, as without kangaroos and acacias, it is impossible to imagine Australia. Eucalyptus trees are an integral part of the rather poor forests that cover this unusual continent in some places.

Some green giants even exceed 100 m in height, with trunks over 30 m in girth and about 8 m thick. Just like skyscrapers, only miraculous and green. Naturally, the height of eucalyptus trees can be different, because the number of their species exceeds 300. It's funny that the birthplace of one of the largest eucalyptus trees on the planet is Australia, the smallest mainland on the planet. Another interesting fact is that the name of this unique tree does not correspond to reality, because "Eucalyptus" in Greek means " I cover well", which means I give a good shadow. In fact, the opposite is true. Eucalyptus trees absolutely do not give shade, despite their thick branches, and this is explained by the way their narrow leaves are placed, facing the sun with an edge and creating a blinds effect. Eucalyptus trees are evergreen trees, do not shed their green cover every year, like other plants, but shed their bark instead. This usually occurs in August (February in the southern hemisphere.) At this time, the trunks of the trees turn blue or bright yellow and become very smooth, and later on them renewed bark grows.

Eucalyptus trees are extremely useful. They grow very quickly, already in the first year reaching 2-3 m in height, and by the age of five 12 m, while the thickness of the trunk is up to 20 cm. It is during this period that they are most suitable for industrial use - the manufacture of beams and telegraph poles. Reaching the age of 20, the entire hectare of eucalyptus forest can produce up to 800 cubic meters. m of very valuable wood. None of the known types of wood can produce such an amount of it even in 120 years, because at 35 years old eucalyptus already has the parameters of a two-hundred-year-old oak.

Due to its extraordinary hardness, eucalyptus enjoys great fame. Its wood is widely used in the construction of ships, dams and various structures for which the durability of materials is important. Eucalyptus wood is also used in the manufacture of furniture, railway sleepers, and in the construction of houses. Eucalyptus practically does not rot, bark beetles do not start in it. It is very difficult to set fire to it, however, the coal obtained from eucalyptus has no equal in its properties. Also, many types of eucalyptus are rich in tannins, which are used to treat leather.

And this is not even all the useful properties of eucalyptus. As a rule, the flowers of plants growing in Australia are odorless, but their foliage is very fragrant. Eucalyptus is no exception to this rule - its leaves contain a huge amount of the most valuable essential oil (for example, half a liter of oil can be obtained from 36 kg of foliage), reminiscent of lemon in its smell. Eucalyptus oil is widely used in medicine and in the manufacture of cosmetics - soaps, varnishes, colognes, etc.

Eucalyptus trees need moist soil, which is why they grow mainly near rivers, lakes or the sea coast.

The most valuable of the properties of this tree is its amazing ability to drain the soil, due to which the eucalyptus is called the "pump tree". The widely developed root system of eucalyptus draws a large amount of moisture from the ground, which subsequently evaporates through the foliage. This is another paradox of eucalyptus - the most moisture-loving tree on the planet grows on the driest of its continents. It is estimated that just one hectare of eucalyptus forest evaporates about 12 million liters of water per year, which is more than a million buckets. For this reason, not a single plant can survive under the canopy of eucalyptus trees. Being natural pumps, eucalypts very quickly drain the surrounding area, and at the same time reduce the number of malaria mosquitoes. That is why eucalyptus trees are planted in huge quantities in countries with high air humidity located in different parts of the world. Many of these trees are also planted in the swamps of Colchis in Georgia. Where until recently no human foot has set foot, dense eucalyptus forests grow. Eucalyptus swallowed up not only the quicksand, but also destroyed the malarial mosquitoes that plagued Western Transcaucasia. Today, the drained lands of the humid subtropics, which turned out to be extremely fertile, are used to grow many valuable crops of the subtropics.

The history of the emergence of the common specific name of the green giants is very interesting. First they were named California pines or mammoth trees, because the ends of the branches of these trees, bent up, are very reminiscent of mammoth tusks. Choosing the scientific name of this tree, the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, who studied sequoia in 1859, gave her the name of the English commander Wellington, calling the tree "Giant Wellingtonia". True, this name did not last so long - outraged Americans quickly renamed the tree and named it after the national hero George Washington. So Wellingtonia became Washingtonia. To streamline the diversity of names, scientists came to a compromise solution - to call the tree the same way as the Indians called it - sequoia. Then they did not know that this name belonged to one of the leaders of the Iroquois, who led the liberation struggle of the Indians against the colonialists. It turns out that the tree did not receive the name of an Englishman or an American - the memory of an Indian folk hero is immortalized in it. True, the old name of the sequoia is often used - "mammoth tree".

In 1857, the sequoia was planted in the Crimea, in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, where it now surprises visitors with its impressive dimensions. In total, more than 100 sequoias grow on the territory of the Southern coast of Crimea.

The coniferous giants of North America, sequoias, are not inferior in height to Australian eucalyptus trees. The highest specimens also reach over 100 m, while their trunks are much thicker. So, for example, one of the sequoias known to science was 46 m in girth and 15 m in diameter.

Sequoias are real "living fossils". These trees were common during the ice age throughout the Northern Hemisphere, as well as in the southern regions of Eastern Europe. Just imagine how huge lizards - brontosaurs and dinosaurs - roamed under these trees, and pterodactyls, the ancestors of modern birds, used their branches for rest.

To our time, sequoias in the wild have survived on the planet only in the US state of California, and grow only on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The average age of trees, like eucalyptus, is 3-4 thousand years, and thanks to the calculations of annual rings visible on the stump of one of the cut trees, a record age for a tree was found - 4830 years! By the way, cutting down such a tree is extremely difficult. One of the redwoods had to be sawn with a seven-meter saw for 17 days, and it took 30 large railway platforms to transport it.

Science knows cases in which there was a dance floor on the stump of a giant felled sequoia, on which not only an orchestra consisting of 4 people, but also 16 dancing couples and even 12 spectators freely accommodated.

In some cases, souvenir shops were placed in the hollows of the redwoods; moreover, the craftsman equipped a garage in one of the hollows. In one of the New York museums, a part of the trunk of a huge sequoia cut down in California is exhibited. The tree has a girth of 75 m. Inside it was equipped with a hall, which can easily accommodate about 150 people.

Sequoia wood, unlike eucalyptus, is light, but it also does not rot and was previously widely used in construction, which was the reason for the complete destruction of this incredible tree. Today, a small number of surviving giants are protected by law - they grow in nature reserves. In such reserves, each of the trees has its own name. The largest sequoia was named "Founder" (112 m in height). "Pride of the Forest", "General Sherman", "Abraham Lincoln" and many others also live here.

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Sequoia

General information, places of growth
sequoia wood

General information, places of growth

And giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), or mammoth tree, is rightfully considered one of the many wonders of the world in the plant world. These giant coniferous trees from the Taxodiaceae family reach a height of more than 110 m and a trunk diameter of up to 12 m, they live for about five thousand years. But it all starts with a tiny sequoia seed.

The history of the emergence and distribution of trees of this species on our planet is estimated at 140 million years, as evidenced by the fossilized trunks found and studied, impressions of scales and needles in geological deposits. Majestic sequoia forests in ancient times grew on the territory of today's France, Japan and even on Svalbard and the New Siberian Islands. But, according to scientific data, the decrease in air humidity and its temperature about 50 million years ago slowed down and slowed down the settling of sequoias. Its range has significantly decreased after the ice age due to the influence of many natural factors and has not changed.

Back in 1769, a Spanish expedition discovered a "red forest" in the area of present-day San Francisco. And in 1847, the botanist and linguist S. Endlifer described these “red trees” in detail and named them Sequoia in honor of the head of the Cherokee Indian tribe Se-quo-yah, the author of the alphabet of his tribe.

Until 1848, sequoia forests were hardly exploited. The Indians were aware of them, but still preferred to live on the Pacific coast. They did not go deep into the forests until the appearance of the so-called "pioneers", who brought death to the indigenous people of America. It was difficult to fell such huge trees with an ax and even (much later) with a saw. In addition, thick trunks turned out to be less suitable for construction than, for example, pine or other conifers growing next to sequoia groves. The beginning of the extermination of unique groves, which have no analogues in beauty and grandeur throughout the globe, was the "gold fever" of 1848. When half of the patriarch trees were already destroyed, the US authorities took them under protection. They declared sequoia a public property and created national parks specifically for them.

Today, natural forests of evergreen sequoia have survived only on the Pacific coast of California, and giant sequoia, or mammoth tree, on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Here are the remains of forest giants, fantastic in their grandeur, that once covered the entire California coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Now evergreen sequoia forms separate massifs and more or less significant clumps, which are interspersed with patches of coniferous forests of other species along about 670 kilometers of the Pacific coast and up to 45 kilometers inland. It occupies valleys, plains, hills with rich, deep soils, rises up to 800-900m above sea level. The tree grows near the coasts and does not climb high into the mountains, because it needs high humidity for good growth.

The giant sequoia (mammoth tree), or (as it is sometimes called now, referring to a separate genus) sequoiadendron, is able to tolerate conditions of lower temperature and less humidity, this allows it to grow at an altitude of 2500m above sea level.

Sequoia: the largest organism on Earth. Sequoia NP, USA

Just like a green sequoia, it does not form a continuous array. It occupies rather gentle slopes and valleys with deep soils. The neighbors of the giant sequoia are yellow and sugar beets, fir, cedar, black oak and other species.

This is how the largest trees in the world grow in their homeland in the neighborhood, forming a real forest of giants. Evergreen sequoia reaches 110-120m in height, giant sequoia - 100m. The diameter of the thickest tree is 13m. It is not surprising that a car passes through a tunnel made in one of the growing trees.

The stock of timber per hectare in sequoia forests often reaches more than 25 thousand cubic meters. And durability! A giant sequoia has been preserved in Rodvuodsky Reserve, which the Indians, who migrated from the forest when the pioneers appeared, used it to observe and make signal fires of danger. This tree is 5,000 years old and still growing.

On a cut of another evergreen sequoia, certain sectors of annual rings are circled with paint. There is the following inscription: “1066 - the Battle of Hastings, 1212 - Signing of the Magna Carta, 1492 - Discovery of America, 1776 - adoption of the Declaration of Independence, 1930 - the year of logging. The tree was cut down in 1930 at the age of 1930! Its shoot appeared in the first year of our reckoning! Seeds of both types of sequoia have low germination. Therefore, in natural forests, self-seeding is not found everywhere. It is usually found in well-lit areas, with moist, loose soils. The most important biological feature of the sequoia is its ability to produce stump shoots, from which valuable forest stands are subsequently formed.

Thick bark (60 cm), huge size, saturation of wood with moisture, the absence of resinous substances in it and the presence of a large amount of tannin, make sequoia resistant to forest fires. Even sequoia trunks charred from above (due to fires) continue to grow, while other conifers and leafy species are destroyed. Sequoias are also not susceptible to insect damage and disease. Mighty roots protect them from the windblow.

It is curious that one of the closest relatives of the sequoia - the metasequoia - was discovered by scientists in the middle of the 20th century. At first, researchers believed that the metasequoia had long since died out. But in 1946 It was possible to prove that there are living trees belonging to this genus in the world. Metasequoia turned out to be a kind of "living fossil". Metasequoia seeds were sent to different parts of the world, including Russia. Now these giants with a pyramidal crown are also growing in the Sochi region.

sequoia wood

Pink, with a darker, slightly reddish core, evergreen sequoia wood with a specific gravity of 0.42 is quite strong. It does not rot for a long time, can withstand transverse loads and is therefore suitable for various purposes, including sawing.

The wood of the giant sequoia is lighter and more fragile. Its specific gravity is 0.30, it is not used for lumber. Sequoia can and even grows very well on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and in the Crimea. In these areas, many hectares of forest plantations have already been created with the participation of giant and evergreen sequoia. Particularly valuable specimens of trees and small plots of crops of these species are found in the Krasnodar Territory and in Georgia. Here, in some areas, giant trees grow in much the same way as in their homeland. Many of them are already bearing fruit. But all these cultures were created separately, in small areas, as it was within the framework of experiments under various conditions.

all types of trees

The largest, tallest tree in the world

giant sequoia

The giant sequoia (mammoth tree) is considered the largest tree in the world - it is a coniferous tree from North America, belonging to "living fossils". Earlier, in the pre-glacial period, these giants were distributed throughout the northern hemisphere and dinosaurs lived under the shade of these trees. Fossil specimens show that giant sequoias existed in the Jurassic.

Age of sequoia

On Earth, sequoias have survived only in the state of California in the USA, on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. In terms of life expectancy, sequoias are still inferior to spiny pines.

A record age of 4,830 years was found on one of the tree-ring cut redwoods, and the average age of the trees is 3,000 to 4,000 years.

Sequoia. The tree is a giant

Not only is the sequoia recognized as the largest and tallest tree in the world, it is also the largest living creature on planet Earth.

Young sequoia trees begin to branch along their entire length, but as they grow, the lower branches fall off, and a continuous canopy forms at the top, which almost does not let the sunlight down. Due to the lack of sunlight, the undergrowth is poorly developed, mainly shade-loving plants, ferns and young redwoods grow here.

Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park and Redwood Park are two places where sequoias have survived. Redwood Park is dominated by the evergreen sequoia, which grows up to 100 meters, while Sequoia Park is dominated by the giant sequoia. Sequoia Park is also famous for its caves, there are about 250 of them in the park.

Giant trees have beautiful names: "General Sherman", "Abraham Lincoln", "Pride of the Forest", "General Grant" and others.

The tallest, unfortunately, now not preserved tree, called the "Father of the Forests", reached a height of 135 meters, and its diameter was twelve meters, for comparison, the height of a Moscow 22-storey building (in new areas) is approximately 70 meters, hence the name of this giant.

giant of the stratosphere

The tallest surviving sequoiadendron giant (Sequoiadendron giganteum) was the "Giant of the Stratosphere", its height was 112 meters. But relatively recently, the record holder lost his position to another sequoiadendron named "Hypereon". The height of the "Hypereon" is about 113 meters, and we remember that a 22-storey building is only 70 meters, while its diameter is 11 meters, that is, several garages and a couple of dance floors could easily fit in the hollow of this glorious tree. There is so much wood in this tree that lovers of fireplace heating will not have to take care of firewood for a long time, the total volume of which is 1500 cubic meters, which is about 2.5 thousand tons.

Previously, sequoia was used in construction, thereby almost completely destroying these majestic trees. Wood was valued because it was light and did not rot. Now a small number of trees have been preserved in nature reserves and are protected by law.

Andrey Safonov, Samogo.Net

Reporting | USA | Sequoia National Park in California

United States → California Sequoia National Park

The park's most popular tree is the General Sherman tree, which is located in the Giant Forest.

This is the largest tree in the world, whose height is 81 meters, the diameter at the base is about 32 meters, and its age is about 3 thousand years. The Forest of the Giants contains five of the ten largest trees in the world by volume. The forest is connected by the Generals Road to the Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park, where another attraction of the park is located - the General Grant tree.

Evergreen Sequoia (Sequoia sempervirens)

Tunnel Log - a small car tunnel cut right in the middle of a giant sequoia that fell on the road.

Sequoia National Park is also famous for its caves, the number of which reaches up to 250. The length of one of them is 32 kilometers in length. Crystal Cave is the second largest and the only one that is open to tourists. Sequoia National Park is attractive with mountain scenery, beautiful waterfalls and high mountain meadows. The park is home to many species of animals, including the American elk, American black bear, white-tailed deer, coyote, lynx.

Material:

Report on natural history

2nd grade student Oskar-Daniel Remmelg

Kohtla-Järve Humanitarian Gymnasium.

Topic of the report: “Sequoia”.

Sequoia is the tallest coniferous tree on earth. It grows in the only place on our planet - in the Sequoia and Redwood National Parks in California, USA.

Sequoia was named so in honor of the leader of the Cherokee Indian tribe Sequoias, who was the first to invent an alphabet for his tribe.

In appearance, sequoias resemble our pine, only enlarged several times. Their trunks stretch to the sky to a height comparable to 50-story skyscrapers - over 100 meters.

Redwoods sometimes live up to four thousand years. This is due to the strength of their wood and the pungent smell of resin, which repels carpenter beetles. The sequoia also has another protective means of protection - a thick bark that absorbs moisture well. This saves the giant from fires.

Sequoia - a giant tree

Imagine, sequoia bark does not burn! Fire chars only the outer layer of the bark.

But the most amazing feature of the sequoia is that it can be said to be friends with fire! Scientists explain the reason for this friendship as follows. Sequoias have small seeds - tiny, like grains. Therefore, it is difficult for them to germinate when they fall to the ground, because there are a lot of fallen needles and leaves of other trees on the ground under the tree. This is where the fire comes to the rescue of the giants - the leaves and needles burn under the tree and space is vacated. Now the sequoia seeds have a place to germinate. Sometimes foresters discuss: maybe they set fires on purpose?

We know that the age of a tree can be determined by the number of rings on the cut of the trunk. Could you determine the age of a long-lived tree?

Any person, even if he is as tall as a basketball player, when standing next to this giant, feels like a small helpless creature, because the sequoia is about 50 times larger than the average human height.

In the middle of the 19th century, these giants were endangered, then they were actively used as a building material. Now the valuable and beautiful wood of these giants is used to make furniture. However, the US National Park Service does not leave attempts to attach the remaining forest areas to protected areas.

Tourists come from all over the world to see these beautiful and largest trees. Also, people are attracted by beautiful mountain landscapes, picturesque waterfalls, alpine meadows and animals that live there.

Questions asked to students in class:

What tree was discussed in the report?

In which country does the sequoia grow?

Is the sequoia a coniferous or deciduous tree?

What is special about the sequoia?

2. http://www.sodis.ru/city.jsp?CITY_ID=867173

3.http://www.sandiegofotki.com/travels/sequoia_img.aspx?sequoia+park+entry

During the report, color illustrations and photographs from the Internet were shown.