Sequoias

Giant sequoias are the largest trees on Earth by volume. They grow naturally only in California. These amazing trees can live for over 3,000 years. Their trunks can be wider than a school bus is long.

Giant Trees

The largest sequoia is called General Sherman. It is about 275 feet tall and over 36 feet wide at the base. General Sherman weighs about 2.7 million pounds. The bark of a sequoia can be over 3 feet thick, which protects it from fire and insects.

Surviving for Thousands of Years

Sequoias have several features that help them live so long. Their thick bark protects them from forest fires. Their wood contains chemicals that resist insects and rot. They are so large that most diseases cannot bring them down. Most sequoias die only when they fall over.

Fun Facts

• The General Sherman tree is the largest living tree by volume, weighing about 2.7 million pounds.
• Sequoia bark can be over 3 feet thick.
• A sequoia's roots spread out over 100 feet but are only about 6 feet deep.

Did You Know?

Giant sequoias need fire to reproduce! Fire clears the ground so their tiny seeds can reach the soil, and the heat opens their cones to release the seeds.