Belknap Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Belknap Complex |
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 Location in California
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| Geography | |
| Location | Tulare County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 36°08′07″N 118°35′05″W / 36.13528°N 118.58472°W |
| Ecology | |
| Dominant tree species | Sequoiadendron giganteum |
The Belknap Complex, sometimes called Belknap Grove, is a special area in California. It is made up of three different giant sequoia groves. These groves are located in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, near the Tule River. You can find them just south of a place called Camp Nelson.
This complex includes the larger McIntyre Grove and Wheel Meadow Grove. It also has the smaller Carr Wilson Grove. The Belknap Complex is home to many very old giant sequoia trees. These trees are spread out over a huge area of about 4,666 acres (18.88 square kilometers).
It's quite easy to visit this amazing place by car. It is located very close to Highway 190. There is also a walking path, Forest Trail 31E30, that goes right through the middle of the complex. This trail lets you explore the heart of these magnificent groves.
Discovering the Belknap Complex's Giant Trees
The Belknap Complex is famous for its incredible giant sequoia trees. Some of these trees are truly massive and have special names. Here are a few of the most noteworthy trees you can find here:
- The Patriarch Tree: This is the biggest tree in the entire grove. It holds about 30,020 cubic feet (850 cubic meters) of wood! Even though it's not very tall for a giant sequoia, its trunk is incredibly wide. The base of its trunk measures about 72.6 feet (22.1 meters) across.
- Near Gutless Tree: This tree is the second largest in the grove. It contains about 26,737 cubic feet (757 cubic meters) of wood.
- Gutless Goliath: This tree is what remains of an even bigger tree from the past. Even so, it still has a huge volume of about 26,564 cubic feet (752 cubic meters).
- The Kathryn Tree: This giant sequoia is special because of its unusually large branches. Its limbs are exceptionally big compared to other sequoias.
