This is part 2 of the National Park Series

Being dwarfed by Earth’s most massive tree, the giant sequoia, fills you with wonder. It’s hard to believe that a living thing can be so enormous and old. Also known as Sierra redwoods, the largest of these trees live in California’s rugged Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Some of the largest surviving giant sequoia groves can be seen in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks,  and can live to be 3,000 years old!

Giant sequoias grow so large because they live a very long time and grow quickly. To thrive, giant sequoias require a great amount of water, primarily from the Sierra snowpack that accumulates over the winter months and soaks into the ground when it melts.

Giant sequoias are generally well able to protect themselves against their natural threats, allowing them to survive for thousands of years. They are too massive to be blown over in the wind, and their bark is thick and rich in tannins, which protect them against fire and insect damage.

Fire is an important element of the giant sequoia forest. Sequoia seedlings need nutrient-rich soil, lots of sunlight, and an area free of competition from other plants to thrive. Periodic wildfires help to produce all of these conditions and are therefore very beneficial to the reproduction of sequoia trees.

Here are the previous parts of this series:

E28: Parque Nacional I: Yosemite
E39: Parque Nacional II: La Tierra de Gigantes
E58 Parque Nacional III: Joshua, El Señor de los Desiertos

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