Giant sequoia or mammoth tree (how elseIt is customary to call it) is considered one of the largest trees in the world. Also, this long-lived is one of the many wonders of the world. This giant tree of the conifer family can reach a height of more than 110 meters, and its trunk is 12 meters in diameter. Life expectancy of a miracle of nature is simply unthinkable. Giant sequoia lives more than 5000 years.
To date, scientists have concludedthat a tree of this breed appeared on earth 140 million years ago. This is proved by the fossils found and studied and other geological deposits, on the basis of which it is possible to calculate the approximate period of occurrence of a huge natural creation on Earth.
In ancient times, sequoia spread toterritories that today are known as France, Japan, and even the New Siberian Islands. The giant tree already existed in the Jurassic period, when dinosaurs inhabited the planet, and even then the forests occupied vast territories in the northern hemisphere. According to experts, 50 million years ago, due to the fact that the temperature on Earth has greatly decreased, the ice age began. The giant sequoia has ceased to spread across the planet and its range has greatly decreased. After warming, these trees remained at the same stage of development and remained to grow only in one region.
Первыми гигантские секвойи обнаружили испанцы, who in 1769 sent an expedition to the area of the current San Francisco. Mammoth trees received their name from the linguist and botanist S. Endlifer, who first called them "red trees". Initially, no one knew what to do with these huge long-livers. They were practically not exploited, this is due to the fact that the sturdy trunks were almost impossible to knock down, because neither the ax nor the saw took them. On top of that, wood turned out to be absolutely unsuitable for construction, such as, for example, pine or other coniferous trees. The forests of giant sequoias were even exterminated in 1848. By the time when more than half of the trees had already been destroyed, the US authorities decided to start protecting the amazing creatures of nature.
Today, the natural forests of redwoods are consideredpublic property, but they are preserved only on the Pacific coast of California. Also, the mammoth tree grows on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This is the only place where the remains of the amazing and beautiful forest giants are still preserved. This reserve covers an area of about 670 kilometers of the coast and about 45 kilometers inland. Giant sequoia does not grow high in the mountains, because it requires high humidity. Nevertheless, the mammoth tree perfectly copes with low temperatures, which just helped this wonder of the world to survive during the ice age.
Thousands of tourists come to the US every yearwho want to be photographed at the foot of the tree. The reserve, where the giant sequoia grows, is also popular with the Americans, who even named one such giant in the name of a famous American commander. This giant is protected, like any other monument, and is the cultural heritage of all of America. Despite the interest of scientists, it is not cut down under any pretext.
The giant sequoia "General Sherman" grows inSierra Nevada and is considered one of the most amazing plants on earth. The height of the tree is over 83 meters, and its trunk volume is 1,486 cubic meters with a weight of more than 6,000 tons. According to rough estimates, the tree is somewhere around 2700 years old, and it still continues to grow. Each year, the giant grows as much wood as an 18-meter-high tree can. Scientists still continue to study the world's only coniferous plant, which has seen the entire history of mankind in its life.
Помимо «Генерала Шермана» в заповеднике есть еще One amazing tree is a giant sequoia (Giant Sequoia). California, where it was cut down, still keeps the base of the giant. Moreover, it also received honor, becoming the unwritten symbol of the state. The tree was cut down in 1930 at the age of 1930! At its core, some sectors are combined with paint and the following is written on them:
The tree has thick bark, the thickness of whichis 60 cm. In the wood moisture there are no oily substances, but in large quantities there is tannin, which makes it resistant to any forest fires. Even burnt trunks continue to grow further, while other conifers die after such defeats. The wood of this tree is not subject to attacks of insects, fungi, diseases and rot. Its roots grow so deep in the ground that the chance of a tree falling from a strong gust of wind is zero. Giant sequoia, pictures and photos of which are amazing, has a pinkish bark, which becomes redder closer to the core. It does not rot for a long time, it can withstand huge loads and therefore is great for a wide variety of purposes, although it is not actively used.
An adult Sequoia tree gives a huge amountseeds, but only a tiny part of them germinates successfully, and even those who have broken through the earth are forced to fight for their lives. The fact is that young shoots branch out along the entire length, but the older they get, the more lower branches they fall off. Thus, the tree forms a solid dome that absolutely does not let in daylight. Giant sequoia forests do not allow anything to grow under this green canopy. Therefore, young shoots have to contend with low light, so it is very difficult to talk about the natural distribution of mammoth trees on the ground. In the event that humanity will actively use such wood, there will be a need to create special reserves in which young trees will be grown.
