List of largest giant sequoias facts for kids

General Sherman tree, Giant Forest Grove, Sequoia National Park, 2007

The giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is the world's biggest tree by total volume. It's often called the largest living thing on Earth! While it's not the tallest tree (that's the coast redwood), or the widest (like the African baobab), or the oldest (the Great Basin bristlecone pine lives longer), giant sequoias are still super impressive.

These amazing trees can grow over 87 meters (286 ft) tall. That's taller than a 26-story building! Their base can be wider than a city street, with a circumference of 34 meters (113 ft) or more. Some have lived for over 3,200 years. Each year, a giant sequoia can add about 1.1 cubic meters (40 cu ft) of wood. This is like growing a new 50-foot-tall tree that's one foot wide every year! This makes them one of the fastest-growing living things on Earth in terms of how much they grow in size each year.

Where Do Giant Sequoias Grow?

General Grant tree, General Grant Grove, Kings Canyon National Park, 2007

Giant sequoias only grow naturally in one special place. This is on the western side of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. You can find them on moist, ice-free ridges and in valleys. They grow at high elevations, from 1,500 to 2,400 meters (5,000 to 8,000 ft) above sea level.

There are about 65 to 75 groups of giant sequoias, called groves, in the Sierra Nevada. The most northern grove is Placer County Big Trees Grove. The most southern one is Deer Creek Grove. All these groves together cover an area of about 14,400 hectares (35,600 acres).

How Forest Fires Affect Giant Sequoias

Giant sequoias are very special because they are built to handle forest fires. Their bark is extremely thick and can resist fire. Also, their cones usually open up right after a fire, releasing seeds to help new trees grow.

However, fires can also be very dangerous for these trees. Young sequoias are easily hurt or killed by fire. Older, larger trees are tougher because of their thick, fire-resistant bark and high branches. But many fires over hundreds of years can burn through the bark. This can damage the inner layers of the tree.

Washington tree, Giant Forest Grove, Sequoia National Park, in 2007

In 2023, there is healing/regrowth on the other side of the Washington tree

Most large sequoias have scars from past fires, often at their base. Fires rarely kill old trees directly. But the damage can make the tree weaker. Fire scars also allow fungi to get inside, causing root disease and heart rot. This makes the wood inside decay, which can then burn more easily in future fires. This cycle weakens the tree, sometimes causing it to fall over.

Fire damage is also a main reason why the tops of some giant sequoias die. While lightning strikes don't usually kill mature trees, they can break off large parts of the top or set dead branches on fire. The most common way old giant sequoias die is by falling over. This happens when their roots and lower trunk become weak from fire and decay. These trees are incredibly heavy, and their roots don't go very deep, which also makes them more likely to fall. Strong winds, soft soil from water, and heavy snow on their branches can also cause them to topple.

A famous example is the Washington tree in Giant Forest Grove. This tree was the second-largest in the world. But in 2003, a lightning strike caused a fire that made it lose part of its top. Its height dropped from about 78 meters (255 ft) to 70 meters (229 ft). Then, in 2005, heavy snow caused the weakened tree to collapse even more. Now, it's only about 35 meters (115 ft) tall.

How Scientists Measure Giant Sequoias

Measuring giant sequoias is a special job. Scientists use methods called dendrometric techniques. They often measure the tree's height, how wide its branches spread, and its diameter at breast height (DBH). This is the distance around the trunk at chest height.

These measurements help scientists estimate how much wood is in a tree. It's like trying to figure out the volume of a giant, uneven cone. It can be tricky because trees aren't perfectly shaped. Scientists measure the distance around the trunk at a few different heights. They assume the trunk is round and that it tapers evenly between these points.

They only measure the wood in the main trunk, even if there are fire scars. They don't count the wood in the branches or roots. Also, they don't count any hollow spaces inside the tree. For example, in 1999, scientists found that the Washington tree in Giant Forest Grove was mostly hollow inside!

List of the Largest Giant Sequoias by Trunk Volume

The table below shows some of the largest giant sequoias. All of them are found in California. The trees are listed by the amount of wood in their main trunk, not including branches.

     means the tree was badly damaged by fire after its last measurement.

Pictures of Some Giant Sequoia Trees

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  General Sherman (Sequoia National Park)

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  General Grant (Kings Canyon National Park)

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  The President (Sequoia National Park)

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  Lincoln (Sequoia National Park)

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  Base of Stagg

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  Boole

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  Genesis

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  Franklin (Sequoia National Park)

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  King Arthur

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  11th largest giant sequoia by trunk volume

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  Grizzly Giant (Yosemite National Park)

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  Chief Sequoyah

See also

• General Noble Tree
• List of giant sequoia groves
• Mother of the Forest
• National Register of Big Trees
• List of individual trees
• List of oldest trees
• List of superlative trees
• The House (trees)