Within Sequoia National Park in California there is a Forest of Giants.....trees that is! The most notable of all the trees in the Forest of Giants is the General Sherman. A Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), that is currently the largest living thing on planet Earth.
Image Citation: Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
The General Sherman is not the tallest tree on Earth, that honor belongs to Hyperion (Coast Redwood also in California), nor is it the widest, or even the oldest, but it is the largest! The General has a combined estimated bole volume of 52,513 cu ft. It is 274+ feet tall, 102+ feet in circumference at the ground, 36 1/2 feet in diameter at the base, with a crown spread of 106+ feet. It's age is estimated to be between 2300 and 2700 years old. There have been others that have live before that are recorded to have more volume but the General Sherman remains, standing proudly within The Forest Of Giants. Named in 1879, after the American Civil War General William T. Sherman by Naturalist James Wolverton who had served under him as a Lieutenant.
Pictures will never do justice to a tree such as this one, this is a must see in person Giant! Plan your visit to see this National Treasure in person at: http://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/sherman.htm
Meet More Trees : www.ArundelTreeService.com or www.MeetaTree.com