San Juan Spruce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Juan Spruce |
|
|---|---|
San Juan Spruce with a human for scale, 2011
|
|
| Species | Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) |
| Location | Vancouver Island British Columbia, Canada |
| Coordinates | 48°35′17″N 124°11′12″W / 48.58792°N 124.18663°W |
| Height | 62.5 m (205 ft) |
| Girth | 11.65 m (38.2 ft) |
| Diameter | 3.71 m (12.2 ft) |
| Volume of trunk | 333 m3 (11,800 cu ft) |
The San Juan Spruce is a very tall Sitka spruce tree found on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. For a while, it was known as the second largest Sitka spruce tree in the world based on its total wood volume. Only the Queets Spruce in Washington, United States, was bigger.
About the San Juan Spruce
The San Juan Spruce is a type of tree called a Sitka spruce. These trees are known for growing very tall and wide. The San Juan Spruce grew in a special spot in the San Juan Valley. It was on the shaded southern side of the valley, right by the San Juan River. This perfect location helped it grow to an amazing size.
A Change in Size
In July 2016, something big happened to the San Juan Spruce. A lightning bolt struck the tree! This strike caused the tree to lose a lot of its height and wood. Because of this, it is no longer one of the very largest Sitka spruce trees. However, its base is still incredibly wide, which makes it a remarkable tree to see.
Before the Lightning Strike
Before the lightning strike in 2016, the San Juan Spruce was measured. These measurements show just how huge it was.
- Height: It stood about 60.48 meters (198.4 feet) tall. That's like a 20-story building!
- Circumference: Around its trunk, it measured about 11.65 meters (38.2 feet). You would need several people holding hands to reach all the way around it.
- Diameter: The distance across its trunk was about 3.71 meters (12.2 feet).
- Crown Spread: The branches spread out about 22.9 meters (75.1 feet) wide.
- Wood Volume: It was estimated to contain about 333 cubic meters (11,760 cubic feet) of wood.
These numbers show how truly massive the San Juan Spruce was before it was hit by lightning. Even now, it remains an impressive natural wonder.
