List of largest giant sequoias
Encyclopedia
The giant sequoia is the world's most massive tree, and arguably the largest living organism
on Earth. It is neither the tallest extant species of tree (that distinction belongs to the coast redwood), nor is it the widest (that distinction belongs to the baobab tree
), nor is it the longest-lived (that distinction belongs to the Great Basin bristlecone pine). However, with a height of 286 feet (87 m) or more, a circumference of 113 feet (34 m) or more, an estimated bole
volume of up to 52500 ft3, and an estimated age of 1800–2700 years, the giant sequoia is among the tallest, widest and longest-lived of all organisms on Earth.
Giant sequoias grow in well-defined groves
in California mixed evergreen forest
s, along with other old-growth species such as California incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens
). Because most of the neighboring trees are also quite large, it can be difficult to appreciate the size of an individual giant sequoia. The largest giant sequoias are as tall as a 26-story building, and the width of their bases can exceed that of a city street. They grow at such a rate as to produce roughly 40 ft3 of wood each year, approximately equal to the volume of a 50-foot-tall tree one foot in diameter. This makes them among the fastest growing organisms on Earth, in terms of annual increase in mass.
Giant sequoias occur naturally in only one place on Earth—the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California
, on moist, unglaciated
ridges and valleys at an altitude of 5000 to 8000 ft (1,524 to 2,438.4 m) above mean sea level
. There are 65–75 groves of giant sequoias in the Sierra Nevada, depending upon the criteria used to define a grove. The northernmost of these groves is Placer County Grove in the Tahoe National Forest
, Placer County, California
, while the southernmost grove is Deer Creek Grove in the Giant Sequoia National Monument
, Tulare County, California
. The combined total area of all groves of giant sequoias is approximately 35600 acres (14,407 ha).
s containing high concentrations of mineral
s and free from competing vegetation. Wildfire
s bring hot air high into the canopy, which in turn dries and opens the cones
. The subsequent release of large quantities of seed
s coincides with the optimal post-fire seedbed
conditions. Ash may also act as a cover to protect the fallen seeds from damage caused by ultraviolet
radiation. The seeds require periodic wildfire to clear competing vegetation and soil humus for the seedling
s to take root. Without fire, shade-loving
species will crowd out young sequoia seedlings and saplings. When fully grown, giant sequoias typically require large amounts of water; groves are therefore often located near streams.
In addition to fire, certain animals are critical to the release and distribution of giant sequoia seeds. Among the most significant of these is Phymatodes nitidus
, a species of longhorn beetle
that lays eggs on the cones, into which the larvae then bore holes. This cuts the water supply
to the cone scales, allowing the cones to dry and open for the seeds to fall. Cones damaged by the beetles during the summer will slowly open over the next several months. Some research indicates that many cones, particularly higher in the crowns
, may need to be partially dried by beetle damage before fire can fully open them. The other agent is the Douglas Squirrel
, which eats the fleshy green scales of younger cones. The squirrels are active year round, and some seeds are dislodged and dropped as the cone is eaten.
and elevated crowns. However, repeated fires over many centuries may penetrate the bark and destroy the vascular cambium
. Nearly all of the larger trees have fire scars, many of which cover a large area of the base of the tree. Older trees are rarely killed by fire alone, but the resulting structural damage may predispose a tree to collapse and fire scars also provide entry for fungi
which may cause root disease
and heart rot
. The resulting decayed wood is then more easily consumed by subsequent fires. The result of this cycle is further structural weakening of the tree, which may eventually lead to its collapse.
Fire scars are thought to be the main cause of dead tops. Although lightning strike
s rarely kill mature trees, lightning sometimes knocks out large portions of crowns or ignites dead tops. The most common cause of death in mature giant sequoias is toppling, due to weakening of the roots and lower trunk by fire and decay. The extreme weight of the trees coupled with their shallow root systems contributes to this weakening. Other causative factors include wind, water-softened soils, undercutting by streams, and heavy snow loads in the crowns
The Washington tree, located in the Giant Forest Grove
in Sequoia National Park
provides a good example of the aforementioned phenomena. This tree was the second largest tree in the world (only the General Sherman tree
was larger) until just a few years ago. In September 2003, the tree lost a portion of its crown as a result of a fire caused by a lightning strike. This reduced its height from nearly 255 feet (77.7 m) to about 229 feet (69.8 m) feet. The structurally weakened tree partially collapsed in January 2005, as the result of a heavy snow load in the remaining portion of its crown; it is now approximately 115 feet (35.1 m) tall.
are taken at only a few predetermined heights up the trunk, and assume that the trunk is circular in cross-section
, and that taper between measurement points is even. Also, only the volume of the trunk (including the restored volume of basal fire scars) is taken into account, and not the volume of wood in the branches or roots. The volume measurements also do not take cavities into account. For example, while studying sequoia tree canopies in 1999, researchers discovered that the Washington tree in Giant Forest Grove was largely hollow.
, is at 42,500 cubic meters larger than all but the top six largest living giant sequoias.
Largest organisms
The largest organism found on Earth can be measured using a variety of methods. It could be defined as the largest by volume, mass, height or length. Some organisms group together to form a superorganism, though this cannot truly be classed as one large organism...
on Earth. It is neither the tallest extant species of tree (that distinction belongs to the coast redwood), nor is it the widest (that distinction belongs to the baobab tree
Adansonia digitata
Adansonia digitata is the most widespread of the Adansonia species on the African continent, found in the hot, dry savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. It also grows, having spread secondary to cultivation, in populated areas...
), nor is it the longest-lived (that distinction belongs to the Great Basin bristlecone pine). However, with a height of 286 feet (87 m) or more, a circumference of 113 feet (34 m) or more, an estimated bole
Trunk (botany)
In botany, trunk refers to the main wooden axis of a tree that supports the branches and is supported by and directly attached to the roots. The trunk is covered by the bark, which is an important diagnostic feature in tree identification, and which often differs markedly from the bottom of the...
volume of up to 52500 ft3, and an estimated age of 1800–2700 years, the giant sequoia is among the tallest, widest and longest-lived of all organisms on Earth.
Giant sequoias grow in well-defined groves
Grove (nature)
A grove is a small group of trees with minimal or no undergrowth, such as a sequoia grove, or a small orchard planted for the cultivation of fruits or nuts...
in California mixed evergreen forest
California mixed evergreen forest
California mixed evergreen forest is an ecoregion, of the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome, that occurs in the Pacific Coast Ranges of southwestern Oregon and California, and in the Coast, Transverse, and Peninsular Ranges in California...
s, along with other old-growth species such as California incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens
Calocedrus decurrens
Calocedrus decurrens is a species of conifer native to western North America, with the bulk of the range in the United States, from central western Oregon through most of California and the extreme west of Nevada, and also a short distance into northwest Mexico in northern Baja California...
). Because most of the neighboring trees are also quite large, it can be difficult to appreciate the size of an individual giant sequoia. The largest giant sequoias are as tall as a 26-story building, and the width of their bases can exceed that of a city street. They grow at such a rate as to produce roughly 40 ft3 of wood each year, approximately equal to the volume of a 50-foot-tall tree one foot in diameter. This makes them among the fastest growing organisms on Earth, in terms of annual increase in mass.
Distribution
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, on moist, unglaciated
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
ridges and valleys at an altitude of 5000 to 8000 ft (1,524 to 2,438.4 m) above mean sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. There are 65–75 groves of giant sequoias in the Sierra Nevada, depending upon the criteria used to define a grove. The northernmost of these groves is Placer County Grove in the Tahoe National Forest
Tahoe National Forest
Tahoe National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the state of California, northwest of Lake Tahoe. It includes the peak of Sierra Buttes, near Sierra City, which has views of Mount Lassen and Mount Shasta. It is located in parts of six counties. In descending order of forestland area...
, Placer County, California
Placer County, California
Placer County is a county located in both the Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada regions of the U.S. state of California, in what is known as the Gold Country. It stretches from the suburbs of Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border. Because of the expansion of the Greater Sacramento,...
, while the southernmost grove is Deer Creek Grove in the Giant Sequoia National Monument
Giant Sequoia National Monument
The Giant Sequoia National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in the southern Sierra Nevada in eastern central California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service as part of the Sequoia National Forest and includes 38 of the 39 Giant Sequoia groves that are located in the...
, Tulare County, California
Tulare County, California
Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border...
. The combined total area of all groves of giant sequoias is approximately 35600 acres (14,407 ha).
Reproduction and early growth
Giant sequoias only thrive in full sunlight, in soilSoil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
s containing high concentrations of mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s and free from competing vegetation. Wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
s bring hot air high into the canopy, which in turn dries and opens the cones
Conifer cone
A cone is an organ on plants in the division Pinophyta that contains the reproductive structures. The familiar woody cone is the female cone, which produces seeds. The male cones, which produce pollen, are usually herbaceous and much less conspicuous even at full maturity...
. The subsequent release of large quantities of seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s coincides with the optimal post-fire seedbed
Seedbed
A seedbed or seedling bed is the local soil environment in which seeds are planted. Often it comprises not only the soil but also a specially prepared cold frame, hotbed or raised bed used to grow the seedlings in a controlled environment into larger young plants before transplanting them into a...
conditions. Ash may also act as a cover to protect the fallen seeds from damage caused by ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
radiation. The seeds require periodic wildfire to clear competing vegetation and soil humus for the seedling
Seedling
thumb|Monocot and dicot seedlingsA seedling is a young plant sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development starts with germination of the seed. A typical young seedling consists of three main parts: the radicle , the hypocotyl , and the cotyledons...
s to take root. Without fire, shade-loving
Shade tolerance
In ecology, shade tolerance is a plant's abilities to tolerate low light levels. The term is also used in horticulture and landscaping, although in this context its use is sometimes sloppy, especially with respect to labeling of plants for sale in nurseries....
species will crowd out young sequoia seedlings and saplings. When fully grown, giant sequoias typically require large amounts of water; groves are therefore often located near streams.
In addition to fire, certain animals are critical to the release and distribution of giant sequoia seeds. Among the most significant of these is Phymatodes nitidus
Phymatodes nitidus
Phymatodes nitidus is a species of longhorn beetle. It lays its eggs on the surface of Giant Sequoia and Coast Redwood cones, into which the larvae then burrow.-References:...
, a species of longhorn beetle
Longhorn beetle
The longhorn beetles are a cosmopolitan family of beetles, typically characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than the beetle's body...
that lays eggs on the cones, into which the larvae then bore holes. This cuts the water supply
Vascular cambium
The vascular cambium is a part of the morphology of plants. It consists of cells that are partly specialized, for the tissues that transport water solutions, but have not reached any of the final forms that occur in their branch of the specialization graph...
to the cone scales, allowing the cones to dry and open for the seeds to fall. Cones damaged by the beetles during the summer will slowly open over the next several months. Some research indicates that many cones, particularly higher in the crowns
Crown (botany)
The crown of a plant refers to the totality of the plant's aboveground parts, including stems, leaves, and reproductive structures. A plant canopy consists of one or more plant crowns growing in a given area....
, may need to be partially dried by beetle damage before fire can fully open them. The other agent is the Douglas Squirrel
Douglas Squirrel
The Douglas Squirrel is a pine squirrel found in the Pacific coastal states and provinces of North America. It is sometimes known as the Chickaree or Pine Squirrel, but since Chickaree is also used for the American Red Squirrel and Pine Squirrel for the genus Tamiasciurus, these alternative names...
, which eats the fleshy green scales of younger cones. The squirrels are active year round, and some seeds are dislodged and dropped as the cone is eaten.
Damaging agents
Fire is the most serious damaging agent of giant sequoias. Seedlings and saplings are highly susceptible to death or serious injury by fire. Larger giant sequoias are more resistant to fire damage, due to their thick protective layer of nonresinous barkBark
Bark is the outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants. Plants with bark include trees, woody vines and shrubs. Bark refers to all the tissues outside of the vascular cambium and is a nontechnical term. It overlays the wood and consists of the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner...
and elevated crowns. However, repeated fires over many centuries may penetrate the bark and destroy the vascular cambium
Vascular cambium
The vascular cambium is a part of the morphology of plants. It consists of cells that are partly specialized, for the tissues that transport water solutions, but have not reached any of the final forms that occur in their branch of the specialization graph...
. Nearly all of the larger trees have fire scars, many of which cover a large area of the base of the tree. Older trees are rarely killed by fire alone, but the resulting structural damage may predispose a tree to collapse and fire scars also provide entry for fungi
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
which may cause root disease
Laminated root rot
Laminated root rot also known as yellowing ring rot is caused by a fungal pathogen Phellinus weirii . Laminated root rot is one of the most damaging root disease amongst conifers in northwestern America and affects mostly fir trees and cedars.. Douglas fir, mountain hemlock, Western Hemlock grand...
and heart rot
Heart rot
thumb|300px|right|The bracket fungus [[Fistulina hepatica]] is one of many that cause heart rot.In trees, heart rot is a fungal disease that causes the decay of wood at the center of the trunk and branches. Fungi enter the tree through wounds in the bark and decay the heartwood. The diseased...
. The resulting decayed wood is then more easily consumed by subsequent fires. The result of this cycle is further structural weakening of the tree, which may eventually lead to its collapse.
Fire scars are thought to be the main cause of dead tops. Although lightning strike
Lightning strike
Lightning strikes are electrical discharges caused by lightning, typically during thunderstorms.Humans can be hit by lightning directly when outdoors. Contrary to popular notion, there is no 'safe' location outdoors. People have been struck in sheds and makeshift shelters...
s rarely kill mature trees, lightning sometimes knocks out large portions of crowns or ignites dead tops. The most common cause of death in mature giant sequoias is toppling, due to weakening of the roots and lower trunk by fire and decay. The extreme weight of the trees coupled with their shallow root systems contributes to this weakening. Other causative factors include wind, water-softened soils, undercutting by streams, and heavy snow loads in the crowns
The Washington tree, located in the Giant Forest Grove
Giant Forest
The Giant Forest, famed for its giant sequoia trees, is within Sequoia National Park. This montane forest, situated at over above mean sea level in the western Sierra Nevada of California, covers an area of...
in Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
provides a good example of the aforementioned phenomena. This tree was the second largest tree in the world (only the General Sherman tree
General Sherman (tree)
The General Sherman is a giant sequoia tree located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, California. By volume, it is the largest known living single stem tree on Earth...
was larger) until just a few years ago. In September 2003, the tree lost a portion of its crown as a result of a fire caused by a lightning strike. This reduced its height from nearly 255 feet (77.7 m) to about 229 feet (69.8 m) feet. The structurally weakened tree partially collapsed in January 2005, as the result of a heavy snow load in the remaining portion of its crown; it is now approximately 115 feet (35.1 m) tall.
Tree measurement
Calculating the volume of a standing tree is the practical equivalent of calculating the volume of an irregular cone, and is subject to error for various reasons. This is partly due to technical difficulties in measurement, and variations in the shape of trees and their trunks. Measurements of trunk circumferenceCircumference
The circumference is the distance around a closed curve. Circumference is a special perimeter.-Circumference of a circle:The circumference of a circle is the length around it....
are taken at only a few predetermined heights up the trunk, and assume that the trunk is circular in cross-section
Cross section (geometry)
In geometry, a cross-section is the intersection of a figure in 2-dimensional space with a line, or of a body in 3-dimensional space with a plane, etc...
, and that taper between measurement points is even. Also, only the volume of the trunk (including the restored volume of basal fire scars) is taken into account, and not the volume of wood in the branches or roots. The volume measurements also do not take cavities into account. For example, while studying sequoia tree canopies in 1999, researchers discovered that the Washington tree in Giant Forest Grove was largely hollow.
List of largest giant sequoias
The following table is a list of the largest giant sequoias, all of which are located in California. Note that the largest non-giant sequoia tree currently standing, Lost MonarchLost Monarch
Lost Monarch is the name of a Coast Redwood tree in Northern California that is in diameter at breast height , and in height...
, is at 42,500 cubic meters larger than all but the top six largest living giant sequoias.
| Rank | Name | Location | Coordinates | Height | Circumference | Volume | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Sherman General Sherman (tree) The General Sherman is a giant sequoia tree located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, California. By volume, it is the largest known living single stem tree on Earth... |
Giant Forest Grove Giant Forest The Giant Forest, famed for its giant sequoia trees, is within Sequoia National Park. This montane forest, situated at over above mean sea level in the western Sierra Nevada of California, covers an area of... |
36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 274.9 feet (83.8 m) | 102.6 feet (31.3 m) | 52508 ft3 | named after William Tecumseh Sherman William Tecumseh Sherman William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched... |
| 2 | General Grant | General Grant Grove | 36°44′48"N 118°58′33"W | 268.1 feet (81.7 m) | 107.5 feet (32.8 m) | 46608 ft3 | named after Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America... ; designated as the "Nation's Christmas Tree" since 1926 |
| 3 | Floyd Otter | Garfield Grove Garfield Grove Garfield Grove is a Giant Sequoia grove which is near the town of Three Rivers in California. The entire lies in Sequoia National Park in the Sierra Nevada range in eastern California in the United States.... |
36°20′00"N 118°43′06"W | 45500 ft3 | named after Floyd L. Otter | ||
| 4 | President President (tree) The President Tree is the name of a giant sequoia located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in the United States, east of Visalia, California. The tree is believed to be at least 3,000 years old... |
Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 240.9 feet (73.4 m) | 93 feet (28.3 m) | 45148 ft3 | named after U.S. President President of the United States The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.... Warren G. Harding Warren G. Harding Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator... |
| 5 | Lincoln Lincoln (tree) The Lincoln Tree is the name of a huge giant sequoia located in Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. It is currently considered by many to be the fifth largest tree in the world. Wendell Flint, in his book "To Find The Biggest Tree", Sequoia Natural History Association stated that the Lincoln... |
Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 255.8 feet (78 m) | 98.3 feet (30 m) | 44471 ft3 | named after Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and... |
| 6 | Stagg Stagg (tree) The Stagg tree is a giant sequoia in Alder Creek Grove. It is the sixth largest tree in the world and is believed to be over 3,000 years old. L. Day noticed the tree in 1931 and, with help from two others, he measured the tree in 1932... |
Alder Creek Grove Alder Creek Grove Alder Creek Grove is a Sequoiadendron giganteum grove located within the Giant Sequoia National Monument in California, USA.Alder Creek Grove is a medium sized grove in the Sierra Nevada, covering Sequoia Crest subdivision and Giant Sequoia National Monument... |
36°11′08"N 118°37′41"W | 243 feet (74.1 m) | 109 feet (33.2 m) | 42557 ft3 | named after Amos Alonzo Stagg Amos Alonzo Stagg Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football... |
| 7 | Boole Boole (tree) The Boole Tree is a giant sequoia in Converse Basin grove in Sequoia National Forest, in the edge of Kings Canyon, 5 miles from General Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevada in eastern California. Converse Basin used to be a large grove, but was logged of most of its giant... |
Converse Basin Grove Converse Basin Converse Basin is a grove of giant sequoia trees located in the Sequoia National Forest in the Sierra Nevada in eastern California. The grove is situated 5 miles north of General Grant Grove, just outside of Kings Canyon National Park. It includes the Boole Tree, the sixth-largest tree in the... |
36°48′21"N 118°58′42"W | 268.8 feet (81.9 m) | 113 feet (34.4 m) | 42472 ft3 | named after Franklin A. Boole |
| 8 | Genesis Genesis (tree) The Genesis Tree is a giant sequoia and is the eighth largest giant sequoia in the world. It is located in Mountain Home Grove, a sequoia grove located in Sequoia National Forest in the Sierra Nevada in eastern California.-See also:... |
Mountain Home Grove Mountain Home Grove Mountain Home Grove is a giant sequoia grove located in Sequoia National Forest in the Sierra Nevada in eastern California. It includes the Genesis tree, the seventh largest tree in the world and the famous "Adam" tree which also is in the top 20 giant sequoias... |
36°14′24"N 118°40′18"W | 253 feet (77.1 m) | 85.3 feet (26 m) | 41897 ft3 | named after Genesis |
| 9 | Franklin Franklin (tree) Franklin is a giant sequoia in Giant Forest, a sequoia grove where the largest tree in the world lives - the General Sherman. The Franklin tree is the ninth largest giant sequoia in the world. It was named by Wendell Flint after Benjamin Franklin... |
Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 223.8 feet (68.2 m) | 94.8 feet (28.9 m) | 41280 ft3 | named after Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat... , located near Washington |
| 10 | King Arthur King Arthur (tree) The King Arthur Tree is a giant sequoia located in Garfield Grove, the grove is near the town of Three Rivers in California. The tree was once known as the California Tree, as shown in National Park Service promotional literature from 1917 . The King Arthur is the tenth largest giant sequoia in the... |
Garfield Grove | 36°20′00"N 118°43′06"W | 270.3 feet (82.4 m) | 104.2 feet (31.8 m) | 40656 ft3 | named after King Arthur King Arthur King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and... |
| 11 | Monroe Monroe (tree) Monroe is a huge giant sequoia tree in Giant Forest, a sequoia grove where the largest tree in the world lives - the General Sherman. The Monroe tree is the eleventh largest giant sequoia in the world... |
Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 247.8 feet (75.5 m) | 91.3 feet (27.8 m) | 40104 ft3 | named after James Monroe James Monroe James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation... , located near Auto Log |
| 12 | Robert E. Lee Robert E. Lee (tree) The Robert E. Lee tree is the second largest giant sequoia in the Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park, and the twelfth largest giant sequoia in the world. Richard Field, a Confederate lieutenant, named this tree around 1875. Wendell Flint and Mike Law measured the tree in 1985 and... |
General Grant Grove | 36°44′48"N 118°58′33"W | 254.7 feet (77.6 m) | 88.3 feet (26.9 m) | 40102 ft3 | named after Robert E. Lee Robert E. Lee Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War.... |
| 13 | John Adams | Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 250.6 feet (76.4 m) | 83.3 feet (25.4 m) | 38956 ft3 | named after John Adams John Adams John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States... , located near Cattle Cabin Cattle Cabin The Cattle Cabin is a one-room log cabin that was built in the Sierra Nevada by Hale Tharp and two partners in 1890, in present day Sequoia National Park, California.... |
| 14 | Ishi Giant Ishi Giant Ishi Giant, is a giant sequoia in California, United States. It is located in Kennedy Grove, which is part of a group of eight closely spaced giant sequoia groves situated in Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevada in eastern central California.... |
Kennedy Grove Kennedy Grove Kennedy Grove is located in the Giant Sequoia National Monument in the Sierra Nevada in eastern California, and part of a group of 8 closely grouped, but narrowly separated Giant Sequoia groves situated in either GSNM or Kings Canyon National Park.Kennedy Grove contains the thirteenth largest tree... |
36°45′48"N 118°49′24"W | 248.1 feet (75.6 m) | 105.1 feet (32 m) | 38156 ft3 | |
| 15 | Column | Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 243.8 feet (74.3 m) | 93 feet (28.3 m) | 37295 ft3 | near General Pershing |
| 16 | Summit Road | Mountain Home Grove | 36°14′24"N 118°40′18"W | 244 feet (74.4 m) | 82.2 feet (25.1 m) | 36600 ft3 | |
| 17 | Euclid | Mountain Home Grove | 36°14′24"N 118°40′18"W | 272.7 feet (83.1 m) | 83.4 feet (25.4 m) | 36122 ft3 | |
| 18 | Washington | Mariposa Grove Mariposa Grove Mariposa Grove is a sequoia grove located near Wawona, California, United States, in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park. It is the largest grove of Giant Sequoias in the park, with several hundred mature examples of the tree... |
37°30′55"N 119°36′15"W | 236 feet (71.9 m) | 95.7 feet (29.2 m) | 35901 ft3 | named after George Washington George Washington George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of... , not to be confused with the Washington tree in Giant Forest Grove |
| 19 | General Pershing | Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 246 feet (75 m) | 91.2 feet (27.8 m) | 35855 ft3 | named after John J. Pershing John J. Pershing John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I... |
| 20 | Diamond | Atwell Mill Grove Atwell Mill Grove Atwell Mill Grove is a giant sequoia grove in the east fork of the Kaweah watershed area in California. Can be accessed via the Mineral King Road which branches off highway 198 below the south entrance to Sequoia National Park.-Noteworthy trees:... |
36°27′55"N 118°40′18"W | 286 feet (87.2 m) | 95.3 feet (29 m) | 35292 ft3 | |
| 21 | Adam Adam (tree) The Adam Tree is the 21st largest giant sequoia in the world. It is located in Mountain Home Grove, a sequoia grove in Sequoia National Forest in the Sierra Nevada in eastern California. The Adam tree was named around 1884 by Jesse Hoskins, who was also responsible for the room cut out of the... |
Mountain Home Grove | 36°14′24"N 118°40′18"W | 247.4 feet (75.4 m) | 94.2 feet (28.7 m) | 35017 ft3 | named after Adam Adam Adam is a figure in the Book of Genesis. According to the creation myth of Abrahamic religions, he is the first human. In the Genesis creation narratives, he was created by Yahweh-Elohim , and the first woman, Eve was formed from his rib... |
| 22 | Roosevelt Roosevelt (tree) Roosevelt is the largest giant sequoia in Redwood Mountain Grove, which is itself the largest grove of giant sequoias on earth. It is located in Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Forest, at in California's Sierra Nevada. The tallest giant sequoia on earth is also located in this... |
Redwood Mountain Grove Redwood Mountain Grove Redwood Mountain Grove is the largest grove of giant sequoia on earth. It is located in Kings Canyon National Park and Giant Sequoia National Monument on the western slope of California's Sierra Nevada. The grove contains the world's tallest giant sequoia... |
36°41′38"N 118°55′08"W | 260 feet (79.2 m) | 80 feet (24.4 m) | 35013 ft3 | named after Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity... , located near Hart Hart (tree) The Hart tree is a giant sequoia in California's Sierra Nevada. It was once claimed to be the fourth largest giant sequoia in the world but is now considered the 25th largest. The tree, which is named for Michael Hart who discovered it sometime around 1880, is in the Redwood Mountain Grove of giant... |
| 23 | Nelder | Nelder Grove Nelder Grove Nelder Grove is a sequoia grove located in the Sierra National Forest, Madera County, California. It is a 1540 acre tract containing over 100 mature Giant Sequoias. It also contains a number of sequoia stumps, left over from when the area was logged prior to its acquisition by the United States... |
37°26′24"N 119°35′16"W | 266.2 feet (81.1 m) | 90 feet (27.4 m) | 34993 ft3 | named after John A. Nelder |
| 24 | AD | Atwell Mill Grove | 36°27′55"N 118°40′18"W | 242.4 feet (73.9 m) | 99 feet (30.2 m) | 34706 ft3 | situated just above Diamond (hence the name "AD") |
| 25 | Hart Hart (tree) The Hart tree is a giant sequoia in California's Sierra Nevada. It was once claimed to be the fourth largest giant sequoia in the world but is now considered the 25th largest. The tree, which is named for Michael Hart who discovered it sometime around 1880, is in the Redwood Mountain Grove of giant... |
Redwood Mountain Grove | 36°41′38"N 118°55′08"W | 277.9 feet (84.7 m) | 75.3 feet (23 m) | 34407 ft3 | named after Michael Hart Michael Hart Michael Hart, Mike Hart, or Mickey Hart may refer to:* Michael Hart , British academic at Exeter College, Oxford* Michael Hart , British rower and participant in 1972 Summer Olympics... |
| 26 | Grizzly Giant Grizzly Giant The Grizzly Giant is a giant sequoia in Mariposa Grove, located in Yosemite National Park. The tree has been measured many times, most recently in 1990 by Wendell Flint. It has a volume of , making it the 26th largest giant sequoia living today.... |
Mariposa Grove | 37°30′55"N 119°36′15"W | 209 feet (63.7 m) | 92.5 feet (28.2 m) | 34005 ft3 | |
| 27 | Chief Sequoyah | Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 228.2 feet (69.6 m) | 90.4 feet (27.6 m) | 33608 ft3 | named after Sequoyah Sequoyah Sequoyah , named in English George Gist or George Guess, was a Cherokee silversmith. In 1821 he completed his independent creation of a Cherokee syllabary, making reading and writing in Cherokee possible... |
| 28 | Methuselah | Mountain Home Grove | 36°14′24"N 118°40′18"W | 207.8 feet (63.3 m) | 95.8 feet (29.2 m) | 32897 ft3 | named after Methuselah Methuselah Methuselah is the oldest person whose age is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Extra-biblical tradition maintains that he died on the 11th of Cheshvan of the year 1656 , at the age of 969, seven days before the beginning of the Great Flood... |
| 29 | Great Goshawk | Freeman Creek Grove Freeman Creek Freeman Creek Grove is a grove of giant sequoias located in Giant Sequoia National Monument in the Sierra Nevada in eastern California. The area is a botanical reserve under administration by the Sequoia National Forest, except for one small inholding... |
36°08′22"N 118°30′33"W | 255.2 feet (77.8 m) | 90.2 feet (27.5 m) | 32783 ft3 | |
| 30 | Hamilton | Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 238.5 feet (72.7 m) | 82.6 feet (25.2 m) | 32783 ft3 | named after Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury... |
| 31 | Dean | Atwell Mill Grove | 36°27′55"N 118°40′18"W | 235.9 feet (71.9 m) | 96.4 feet (29.4 m) | 32333 ft3 | |
| 32 | Black Mountain Beauty | Black Mountain Grove Black Mountain Grove Black Mountain Grove is a large sequoia grove containing more than 500 large trees, on the slopes of Black Mountain located between the Middle and South Forks of Tule River. It lies partly in the Tule River Indian Reservation.... |
36°06′16"N 118°39′19"W | 263 feet (80.2 m) | 76 feet (23.2 m) | 32224 ft3 | |
| 33 | Packsaddle Giant | Packsaddle Grove Packsaddle Grove Packsaddle Grove is a medium sized sequoia grove on Giant Sequoia National Monument. This compact grove offers a rare look at a truly old growth forest where California condors have, and may once again live. The main access to this grove is via dirt roads and cross-country hiking. The terrain is... |
35°55′26"N 118°35′34"W | 219 feet (66.8 m) | 106.4 feet (32.4 m) | 32156 ft3 | |
| 34 | Allen Russel | Mountain Home Grove | 36°14′24"N 118°40′18"W | 254.1 feet (77.4 m) | 80.2 feet (24.4 m) | 31650 ft3 | named after Allen Russel |
| 35 | Cleveland | Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 251 feet (76.5 m) | 80.2 feet (24.4 m) | 31336 ft3 | named after Grover Cleveland Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents... |
| 36 | Dalton | Muir Grove Muir Grove Muir Grove is a giant sequoia grove in Sequoia National Park which covers about . The grove, located in the northwest corner of the park, is accessed by the Muir Grove Trail which begins from the Dorst Creek Campground.... |
36°37′53"N 118°50′10"W | 274.5 feet (83.7 m) | 76.1 feet (23.2 m) | 31065 ft3 | |
| 37 | Louis Agassiz | Calaveras Big Trees State Park Calaveras Big Trees State Park Calaveras Big Trees State Park is a state park of California, USA, preserving two groves of giant sequoia trees. It is located northeast of Arnold, California in the middle elevations of the Sierra Nevada... |
38°16′19"N 120°17′16"W | 262 feet (79.9 m) | 98 feet (29.9 m) | 30580 ft3 | named after Louis Agassiz Louis Agassiz Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel... |
| 38 | Near Ed | Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 251 feet (76.5 m) | 79.5 feet (24.2 m) | 30333 ft3 | |
| 39 | Evans | Kennedy Grove | 36°45′48"N 118°49′24"W | 232.4 feet (70.8 m) | 77.5 feet (23.6 m) | 30232 ft3 | |
| 40 | Three Fingered Jack | Mountain Home Grove | 36°14′24"N 118°40′18"W | 240 feet (73.2 m) | 82.5 feet (25.1 m) | 30118 ft3 | |
| 41 | Patriarch | McIntyre Grove McIntyre Grove McIntyre Grove is a sequoia grove in southern California and is part of the Belknap complex along with Wheel Meadow Grove and the smaller, compact Carr Wilson, or Bear Creek Grove.... |
36°08′07"N 118°35′05"W | 176.5 feet (53.8 m) | 72.6 feet (22.1 m) | 30020 ft3 | |
| 42 | Red Chief | Long Meadow Grove Long Meadow Grove Long Meadow Grove, also known by some as Redwood Meadow Grove, is a giant sequoia grove in California which offers a half mile interpretive trail, Trail of 100 Giants, through majestic mature sequoias. The grove is part of the southern section of Giant Sequoia National Monument and is administered... |
35°58′58"N 118°36′05"W | 245 feet (74.7 m) | 80.6 feet (24.6 m) | 28723 ft3 | |
| 43 | The Sentinel | Giant Forest Grove | 36°33′45"N 118°45′05"W | 257.6 feet (78.5 m) | 79 feet (24.1 m) | 27900 ft3 | |
| 44 | Bull Buck | Nelder Grove | 37°26′24"N 119°35′16"W | 246.1 feet (75 m) | 99.1 feet (30.2 m) | 27383 ft3 | |
| 45 | Near Gutless | McIntyre Grove | 36°08′07"N 118°35′05"W | 252.1 feet (76.8 m) | 75.6 feet (23 m) | 26737 ft3 | |
| 46 | Gutless Goliath | McIntyre Grove | 36°08′07"N 118°35′05"W | 275.1 feet (83.9 m) | 68 feet (20.7 m) | 26564 ft3 | |
| 47 | Candelabra | Packsaddle Grove | 35°55′26"N 118°35′34"W | 205.5 feet (62.6 m) | 26341 ft3 | ||
| 48 | Bannister | Freeman Creek Grove | 36°08′22"N 118°30′33"W | 195 feet (59.4 m) | 103.5 feet (31.5 m) | 26100 ft3 | |
| 49 | Ghost | Packsaddle Grove | 35°55′26"N 118°35′34"W | 180.6 feet (55 m) | 95 feet (29 m) | 25047 ft3 |
See also
- General Noble Tree
- List of giant sequoia groves
- Mother of the ForestMother of the ForestThe Mother of the Forest was an ancient and huge Sequoiadendron tree. The tree lived in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in eastern central California, United States...
- National Register of Big TreesNational Register of Big TreesThe National Register of Big Trees is a list of the largest living specimens of each tree variety found in the continental United States. A tree on this list is often called a National Champion Tree....
- Record breaking trees
- The House (trees)The House (trees)The House or The House Group is a group of monumental Giant Sequoias in the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park in California, United States....
Footnotes
External links
- Landmark Trees Archive: Tree Measurement Formulas