A big hug for General Sherman

A big hug for General Sherman

Me hugging the largest tree on Earth. Normally you can't, because there is a fence around it, but in the wintertime snow covers the fence and you can walk or snowshoe up to the tree.
tarol
on Jul 11, 2006 4:22 pm
Image Type(s): Flora
Image ID: 206770

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Rick B

Rick B - Feb 23, 2007 2:59 pm - Voted 10/10

Large indeed

That is a LARGE tree yes, how high is it? In what aspect is it the largest on Earth? Is it just the largest 'species', or is it the highest / heaviest / ... specific tree?

Cool photo, cheers,

Rick

Rick B

Rick B - Feb 23, 2007 3:07 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: Large indeed

Ah never mind, I already found the wikipedia entry. Might still be interesting for others though:

General Sherman

tarol

tarol - Feb 23, 2007 7:54 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Large indeed

It's the largest in terms of total volume of wood in the trunk (52,500 cubic feet). It is about 267 feet high and 36 feet wide at the base.

Coastal redwood, Douglas Fir, and Eucalyptus may grow a little taller, but they don't come close to the bulk or mass of the largest giant sequoias.

A good book to read about big trees is To Find the Biggest Tree by Wendell D. Flint. Also check out Forest Giants of the Pacific Coast by Robert Van Pelt

lcarreau

lcarreau - Sep 18, 2007 3:50 pm - Hasn't voted

The Giant Forest...

The Giant Forest, in Sequoia NP, is nothing short of incredible. Highly recommended. I worked there for two summers in the mid-1990's. Saw a lot of black bears along the General's Highway.I viewed a bear actually climbing a giant Sequoia - no pics, unfortunately! The CONES from these trees are humongous! A TRUE TREE HUGGER!!! Take care!

tarol

tarol - Sep 19, 2007 9:26 am - Hasn't voted

Re: The Giant Forest...

Actually the cones from a giant sequoia are small, about the size of a chicken egg. You must be thinking about sugar pines, they have very large cones that can be up to 20" long.

lcarreau

lcarreau - Sep 19, 2007 2:37 pm - Hasn't voted

I stand corrected...

You're right, had to bone up on my Sequoia facts: Mature Sequoias may produce 2,000 CHICKEN'S EGG-sized cones each year. Seeds are dispersed by Douglas squirrels...
YES! I'm still wiping the EGG off my face, has been TOO LONG since I visited the Sierra. Thanks for the information!

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