Converse Basin Grove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Converse Basin Grove |
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Historical marker (1977)
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| Map | |
 Location in California
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| Geography | |
| Location | Madera County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 36°48′00″N 118°58′00″W / 36.8°N 118.966667°W |
| Elevation | 5,900–6,600 ft (1,800–2,000 m) |
| Area | 3,700 acres (15 km2) |
| Ecology | |
| Dominant tree species | Sequoiadendron giganteum |
Converse Basin Grove is a grove of giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) trees in the Giant Sequoia National Monument in the Sierra Nevada, in Fresno County, California, 5 miles (8 km) north of General Grant Grove, just outside Kings Canyon National Park in the national monument managed by the Sequoia National Forest. It covers about 3,700 acres (15 km2) with sequoias concentrated in the basin formed by Converse Creek.
History
Converse Basin was once the world's second-largest giant sequoia grove before it was logged of most of its giant sequoias between 1892–1918. Some 60-100 large specimens survive out of some 6,000.
The grove was named after Charles Porter Converse, who settled the basin prior to its logging.
The grove and its surrounding areas it were heavily impacted by the Rough Fire in 2015; however, no trees of exceptional size or historical significance were harmed.
Noteworthy trees
Some of the trees found in the grove that are worthy of special note are:
- The Boole Tree: Prior to 1931, this tree was thought by some to be the largest tree in the world (although the nearby General Grant Tree was more popularly recognized as largest at the time), but after measuring many other specimens it was rated number 6, with a volume of 42,472 cubic feet (1,202.7 m3). It has an enormous base, with a girth of over 113 feet (34 m). It is 267 feet (81 m) tall.
- Chicago Stump: the remnant of the General Noble Tree which was cut for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The General Noble Tree was the second-largest tree in the grove. Although not among the very largest giant sequoias, the General Noble Tree was perhaps among the top 30 largest giant sequoias before it was cut.
- Muir Snag: Thought to be the oldest giant sequoia, this now dead tree is still standing but only at 140 feet (43 m) tall. It has a maximum base diameter of 35.9 feet (10.9 m). Before it died, its perimeter could have been as much as 110 feet (34 m). It is thought to have been more than 3500 years old when it died.
Gallery
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Boole, the 6th largest giant sequoia in the world.
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The dead canopy of Boole caused by shock immediately after almost all of the surrounding trees were cut down.
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The Muir Snag
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A section of General Noble on display during the 1893 World Columbian Exposition.
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