Archive for the ‘Sequoia’ Tag

Case Mountain   Leave a comment

California’s Case Mountain is home to some of the largest trees on earth! Located about 7.5 miles southeast of the town of Three Rivers, California, Case Mountain was established to protect the giant sequoias. Comparable in size to a 26-story building, sequoias not only loom over their mixed conifer forest neighbors, but they also outlive them – reaching over 3,000 years. Photo by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 4/28/17.

Posted June 17, 2017 by henrymowry in California

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Wintry   Leave a comment

Long-Lived Giants   Leave a comment

If you have not walked among the giant sequoias, then you have not experienced one of the unique and wonderful experiences in California. Three quick facts:

  1. Sequoiadendron giganteum trees have been found to be 3,500 years old by counting their rings.

  2. Sequoia trees are the largest living things, growing to an average height of 164 – 279 feet and 20 – 26 feet in diameter. Record trees reach over 300′ in height.
  3. Mature trees are estimated to have 11,000 cones at any one time, and are thought to distribute 300,000+ seeds each year. In spite of that, the trees occur naturally only in groves on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Giant sequoia trees in the Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Parks. Photo by Tiffany Nguyen. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/19/15.

Giant sequoia trees in the Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Parks. Photo by Tiffany Nguyen. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 10/19/15.

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Kings Canyon National Park

Sequoia National Park

Posted June 20, 2016 by henrymowry in National Parks

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California Vista   1 comment

The Mighty Sequoia   Leave a comment

The giant sequoia naturally occurs only on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. One more reason you have to visit California!

The giant sequoia is the largest living thing by volume: nothing can match the immense size of a sequoia.

The tree is naturally resistant to fire: even when a sequoia catches on fire (generally due to a lightning strike), the natural tannin in the wood will cause the fire to burn itself out.

Though logging was tried in the 1800s, it was found that when the sequoias fell, the wood often shattered, leaving only small pieces as harvestable lumber. Eventually, logging stopped because it just wasn’t worth it.

Sequoias are naturally disease resistant as well, and live for hundreds and hundreds of years.

The greatest danger to sequoias, we’ve found, is that these giants sometimes lose their balance … and topple over. Falling down is the biggest cause of sequoia deaths in nature.

Therefore, the sequoias grow in groups. There are 68 naturally occurring groves of sequoia, and as the trees grow together, they interlock their roots. By grouping together, you see, they help to keep each other standing up, facing each day, come what may.

And that’s the lesson: you won’t fall over if you gather in a group and stay firmly rooted.

Together.

The only Sequoia grove complex managed by the Bureau of Land Management are on California's Case Mountain. The groves are approximately 7½ miles southeast of the town of Three Rivers, California. The complex is comprised of six distinct sequoia grove units, which total about 444 acres. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/25/16.

The only Sequoia grove complex managed by the Bureau of Land Management is on California’s Case Mountain, approximately 7½ miles southeast of the town of Three Rivers, California. The complex is comprised of six distinct sequoia grove units, which total about 444 acres. Three small groves – which have never been logged – protect majestic trees that are 6-16 feet in diameter! These groves are part of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area that has miles of mountain bike, foot and equestrian trails, and endless opportunities to be wowed! Photo by Bob Wick, BLM. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 3/25/16.

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Wikipedia: Sequoiadendron giganteum

YouTube: Species Loss, Precipitation, and Fire in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park

Sequoia National Park

The Congress Trail

The World’s Largest Tree

 

The World’s Largest Tree   2 comments

The General Sherman Tee is the world's largest tree in the Sequoia National Park. The photographer used light painting to get this effect in their nighttime shoot. Photo by Christian Loya. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/20/16.

The General Sherman Tee is the world’s largest tree in the Sequoia National Park. The photographer used light painting to get this effect in their nighttime shoot. Photo by Christian Loya. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/20/16.

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Sequoia National Park

The Congress Trail

Winter In The Sierra

Water   Leave a comment

Posted June 27, 2015 by henrymowry in Photography

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Snow   3 comments

A Rocky Mystery   Leave a comment

This beautiful shot is taken "somewhere" in the Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Parks - which are jointly managed and referred to as SEKI in National Park code. The US Department of the Interior tweeted this lovely image on Monday ... but didn't identify where it is specifically, or (as is pretty normal for them) who the photographer is. I'm guessing this is a lake that's away up high in Sequoia National Park, above the tree line. Do you recognize this area?

This beautiful shot is taken “somewhere” in the Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Parks – which are jointly managed and referred to as SEKI in National Park code. The US Department of the Interior tweeted this lovely image on Monday … but didn’t identify where it is specifically, or (as is pretty normal for them) who the photographer is. I’m guessing this is a lake that’s way up high in Sequoia National Park, above the tree line. Do you recognize this area?

A Beautiful Sunrise   1 comment

Photo: Steve Gadecki. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 2/22/14.

Somewhere in the Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park (In National Park jargon, AKA SEKI). Photo: Steve Gadecki. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 2/22/14.

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