Giant Sequoias are one of the largest species of all plants and animals on Earth, thirty times larger than a blue whale. The 2,200 year old General Sherman has a 36 foot diameter trunk, weighing over 6,000 tons and reaches up 275 feet. At one time exaggerated claims were made that the Sequoias were the world's oldest trees, living 3,300 years, but it's now known that it falls short of the Bristlecone Pine's amazing life span of 4,000 years. These astounding Sequoias, shown here in Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park, have no tap roots and spread their roots out 150 feet to support the massive trunk.
Suppressing natural fires are having adverse consequences on the start of new trees. Reduced sunlight and moisture, coupled with years of built-up needles and bark debris, has stopped new seedlings from getting a start. Now, the importance of forest fires is being discovered and the park service is generating public awareness.