"General Sherman" is the largest tree in the world. Giant sequoia

Sequoia is one of the largest trees on our planet. In the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, it was common in Europe and Asia, but is now preserved only in the mountains of California and Southern Oregon. These are relic plants of pre-glacial period, they can be called living fossils.

Features

Sequoia giant (sequoiaendron, mammoth tree), named after the Iroquois leader, was completely unknown to Europeans until 1850. The grove of these gigantic trees was discovered by the Englishman Lobb.

Indians call sequoia "fathers of forests." This makes sense, since the described trees not only reach a height of 100-120 m, but also live surprisingly long. By the annual rings on the oldest of them it was found that they can reach the age of up to 3000 years.

Sequoia gigantic refers to the family Taxodiyev (department gymnosperms). This is a coniferous tree with a lush crown. Although beautiful and dense wood is very valued, the possibilities of its use in the farm are small because of the extremely small number of sequoia. But it is used for decorative purposes. Landings of these giants can be found in Transcaucasia and on the southern coast of the Crimea.

Sequoia or sequojadendron?

Although these trees are very similar, there are differences between them.

Sequoias grow in the north of California on a narrow coastal strip. For them, a humid climate with permanent fogs is favorable. A giant sequoia occurs on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range (at altitudes of 1.5-2 km). Cones of the sextoys can not open with dampness. Dry and hot weather is necessary for seed rash.

Forest fires, dangerous to all life, for these trees can play the role of a catalyst for reproduction and growth. The cones from the heat open, and the seeds fall on the soil already free of weeds. Adult trees with their powerful bark from the fire do not suffer as much as other plants. And in the trunk of the old giant sequoia can contain up to 8000 liters of water.

These giants amaze with their height. They argue with some species of eucalyptus for the title of the tallest trees. Sequoia adrenals do not reach a hundred meters high, but they tremble with their thickness reaching more than 10 m. It is not by chance that they are called giant.

For example, the sequoia "General Sherman" has a barrel girth more than 35 m. To drive a dance around such a giant, it would take more than 25 people! This tree is considered the largest in the world since 1931.

Giant sequoias are long-livers. At the beginning of the 20th century, they were cut down due to valuable timber. On the annual rings on the stumps, the age of the trees was determined. It turned out that some of them lived about 3 thousand years! They grew already when the Egyptians had just started building the famous pyramids.

Giant sequoias have an extremely branched and powerful root system. The bark contains substances that repel bark beetles and other pests. From mushrooms and lichens they also have chemical protection.

General Sherman's Tree

In California (USA), the Sequoia National Park was created. Its main part is the "Forest of Giants" - the grove of the largest trees on the planet. Almost every specimen has its own name. Among them, the most famous is the tree of General Sherman. It's just amazing. Sequoia "General Sherman" is the largest tree in the world. It is believed that his age is 2300-2700 years. The height is not maximal 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 giant size. There comes a time 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. Now it is more than 11.1 m!

Such a grandiose tree attracts exceptional attention of tourists. The Sequoia National Park is visited every year by tens of thousands of people who want to see this wonder of the world, to be photographed next to it.

Named after the hero

General Sherman, in whose honor the tree is named, is the national hero of the United States. During the Civil War, he enjoyed even greater popularity 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 southerners led by Johnston. In 1869, the general became Grant's successor as commander-in-chief of US troops.

In 1879, naturalist James Walverton, who during the civil war served in the army of Sherman in the rank of lieutenant, named the colossal tree on behalf of his beloved commander.

By the way, the second largest in the world is considered to be the sequoia "General Grant".

Attractions of the park

In addition to the "Giant Forest" tourists are attracted by a tunnel-log. In 1937, a giant sequoia fell across the road in the park, blocking the way for cars. To rediscover the path, the park's employees were forced to cut a tunnel in it with a width of more than 5 m and a height of almost 2.5 m. The tree was decided not to clean, and it became one of the main attractions.

In the center of the park there is a granite hill Moro Rock, to the top of which leads a staircase. Above you see a magnificent view of the entire "Forest of Giants". Attract them and numerous caves. However, all of them are closed to visit, except one.

A beautiful park and its giant trees are now in danger. Continuing in recent years, the drought in California has caused numerous fires that even the most powerful sequoias can not withstand. And the lack of moisture in the soil makes it difficult for young growth. Unfortunately, these long-livers can disappear from the face of the Earth.