Washington Tree
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The Washington Tree is a giant sequoia in the Giant Forest Grove in Tulare County, California, within Sequoia National Park. It is named after Founding Father George Washington, the first President of the United States. Until it partially collapsed in January 2005, the Washington Tree was the second largest tree in the world (after the General Sherman Tree). Though badly damaged, the tree is still living.
Before damage
The tree was studied in 1999 by scientists from Humboldt State University and University of Washington. The tree was Script error: No such module "convert". tall, with a basal diameter of Script error: No such module "convert".. Its total volume was Script error: No such module "convert"., including the main stem Script error: No such module "convert". and the 46 largest branches Script error: No such module "convert".. The scientists discovered a large cavity in the trunk of the tree, measuring Script error: No such module "convert". in height by Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter. The cavity was accessible only by a hole situated Script error: No such module "convert". above the ground. The significance of this finding is that the volume of wood in the tree had been greatly overestimated by previous measurements.[1]
Damage and collapse
In September 2003, a fire caused by a lightning strike damaged the tree's crown. National Park Service officials decided to let the fire burn without human intervention. The tree lost a large portion of its crown in the fire, reducing its height to about Script error: No such module "convert"..[2]
The structurally weakened tree partially collapsed in January 2005, as the result of a heavy snow load in the remaining portion of its crown. The tree lost more than half its height, most of its branches, and much of the trunk, including the entire hollow upper portion of the trunk. It is now Script error: No such module "convert". high, with only a few branches living near the top of the tree.[2]
The Washington Tree is no longer one of the top ten largest giant sequoias, though the National Park Service still lists it as the second largest, due to current documentation policy (trees are calculated as if they did not suffer damage). Even in its damaged state, the tree may not be dying, as it still has half a dozen significant branches. Many other sequoias have survived with less foliage, and the tree might live decades or centuries longer.[2]
Regrowth
One side of the Washington Tree has been showing signs of regrowth since at least 2007.[3]
See also
References
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External links
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