The President Tree, with humans surrounding it with interlocked hands for scale in July 2023
The President Tree, before the "T" came off of its sign (March 2016)

The President is a giant sequoia located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in the United States, east of Visalia, California. It is approximately 247 feet (75 m) high, and 27 feet (8.2 m) in diameter at the base. The President is the second-largest tree in the world,[1] measured by volume of trunk, and the oldest-known living sequoia, about 3,240 years old.[2] As of 2012, the volume of its trunk measured at about 54,000 cubic feet (1,500 m3), with an additional 9,000 cubic feet (250 m3) of branches.[3]

The tree was named after President Warren G. Harding in 1923.[4] Nearby trees include Chief Sequoyah, the 27th-largest giant sequoia in the world, and the Congress Group, two dense stands of medium-sized sequoias that represent the "House" and "Senate".

Description

The President features a dense crown with enormous branches reaching upward and outward. An especially prominent white branch is visible the western side of the tree's upper crown. A long, narrow burn scar is present on the north side of its trunk.

Dimensions

Meters Feet
Height above base[2] 75.3 247.0
Circumference at ground[5] 28.4 93.0
Diameter 1.5 m above base 7.1 23.1
Diameter 18 m (60') above base Hu3 5.2 16.9
Diameter 55 m (180') above base 3.55 11.6
Diameter of largest branch 2.43 8.0
Height of first large branch above the base 37.1 122.0
Estimated bole volume (m3.ft3)[5] 1,278.0 45,148.0
Estimated volume in branches (m3.ft3)[6] 254.9 9,000.0

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/largest-trees-in-world.htm
  2. ^ a b Quammen, David. "Giant Sequoias". National Geographic. No. December 2012. Archived from the original on November 20, 2012.
  3. ^ Cone, Tracie (December 2012). "After review, giant sequoia beats neighbor". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Giant redwood dedicated to memory of late president". National Lumber Bulletin. September 7, 1923. p. 13.
  5. ^ a b "The Giant Sequoia -- Forest Masterpiece". Retrieved 2012-12-02.
  6. ^ "Giant Sequoia Tree 'The President' Tops 'General Grant,' National Geographic Photographs The Forest". Huffington Post. 2012-12-01. Retrieved 2012-12-07.

36°34′24″N 118°45′00″W / 36.57341°N 118.75010°W / 36.57341; -118.75010

Categories