INCREDIBLE FACTS ABOUT SEQUOIAS
Planning a trip to California’s iconic and giant Sequoias? Sequoia trees are one of California’s most breathtaking natural wonders, drawing visitors from around the globe to experience their towering heights and unforgettable forest landscapes. See the largest living thing on Earth by volume in the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park!
1. Giant Sequoias only grow on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Sequoias grow between 4,000-8,000 feet in elevation due to the soil and climate found there. Giant Forest is where visitors can see most of the giant sequoias. Some of the best places to see them are along the Big Trees Trail and The Congress Trail.
2. Sequoias can live to be 3,000 years old.
The oldest known tree is about 3,200 years old. When the Roman Empire was at its peak, in 117 AC, this tree was already over 1,000 years old. The United States is only 250 years old!
3. The limbs of a giant sequoia are bigger than most trees.
Sequoias sometimes reach 8 feet in diameter and 100 feet in length. See a limb that fell from the General Sherman Tree onto the pathway around the tree and measure just how big it is.
4. The seeds are as small as a grain of oatmeal.
Of the 300,000-400,00 seeds released in a year (about 60 million seeds in its lifetime), only a few will grow to be 100-year old trees. The cones are very small and need the heat from a fire to dry them out and allow the seeds to fall out. .
5. Cones may stay on the tree for up to 21 years.
Douglas squirrels eat the cones, not the seeds, which is one way the seeds are dispersed.
6. The General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park is the largest living thing on earth!
It is 274.9 feet tall and has a diameter of 36.5 feet. That is about 102 feet in circumference.
7. A Sequoia tree's bark can grow to be up to 3 feet thick to protect the trees from fire and bugs.
Touch the bark of a tree and see how it feels. It is soft and spongy, not hard like an oak tree.
