National Park Redwood is the place on Earth that you want to visit again and again, no matter what the weather is like.
general description
Redwood National Park (photo below) has been a UNESCO heritage since 1980, as well as one of the most famous nature reserves in the United States of America. Its dimensions are 430 square kilometers. This amazing reserve is famous for its picturesque plantations of the ancient forests of sequoia and mahogany. Also, these trees are known for their wear-resistant characteristics and vitality. Their height reaches 115 meters, they grow for four thousand years, and their bark can withstand the effects of fire, wind and water.
In addition to mahogany forests, this park retains unspoiled fauna and flora. About 75,000 rare species of mammals, birds and animals have found refuge here (for example, Western toad, California brown pelican, bald eagle, red deer, Roosevelt elk and others). Fans of the famous Star Wars epic will undoubtedly recognize the landscapes of the green planet Endor in the park’s landscapes, as the final episode of the fantastic movie trilogy was filmed here. Currently, the territory in which the Redwood National Park (California) is located is one of the most significant and protected in the United States.
History of occurrence
The first state reserves were organized back in the 16th century in order to preserve species of flora and fauna that are on the verge of extinction. On their territory it was forbidden to hunt, cut down trees, collect herbs, plants and their fruits. Later there was a need to create not only reserved areas, but also places for public leisure. Squares and parks began to appear in settlements.
In 1848, with the beginning of the gold rush, representatives of the woodworking industry came to Northern California to the territory that once belonged to the Cherokee Indians and began a merciless systematic deforestation of mahogany forests. By 1918, a fund for the protection of sequoia forests was created. But by the time the state reserve was officially formed on October 2, 1968, ninety percent of the sequoia and mahogany forests were destroyed. On this day, US President Lyndon Johnson signed an order to create the Redwood National Park (literally translated as "red forest"). It included three combined parks: Del Norte Coast Redwoods, Jediah Smith, and Prarie Creek. Its total area at that time was 23,500 hectares. Later, in 1978, the territory of the reserve was able to increase by another 19,400 hectares thanks to the Congress decision.
In 1983, Redwood National Park was declared a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Forest area reached its current size in 1994 and is under government protection.
Vegetation
The rich flora of the Redwood Nature Reserve is presented to us by 700 species of higher plants.
A significant and large part of the park is occupied by the forests of the California red mammoth sequoia tree (lat. Sequoia sempervirens), which belongs to the monotypic genus of the Cypress family of trees. The crown has a conical shape, the thickness of the bark is 30 cm, the length of the leaves reaches 25 mm, the cones are 32 mm in length, the height of the tree is up to 130 m, the trunk diameter is 5 - 11 m.
Sequoia trees (Sequoia sempervi-rens, Sequoiadendron giganteum) - a coastal mahogany subspecies (S. mahagoni). They are the highest existing on Earth and grow on the Pacific coast of North America between Monterey Bay in Northern California and the Klamath Mountains in Southern Oregon.
Currently, the highest sequoia in the world is Hyperion, its height is 115.5 meters. By 2017, according to scientists, the championship will be taken by the Helios sequoia (which grows by 2 inches annually), since the growth of Hyperion is suspended due to trunk damage caused by woodpeckers.
In addition to representatives of mahogany, rare and beautiful flora representatives such as azalea, western trillium, sour acid, Douglas fir, California rhododendron, nephrolepis, and others settled in the territory of the Redwood National Park.
What to do in the park?
Majestic sequoias, picturesque landscapes, well-equipped camping and other attractions attract a constant flow of tourists at any time of the year.
The Redwood National Park does not have to be explored on foot. An old railway was laid through the reserve. Previously, a logged forest was transported along it, and now sightseeing trains run. By the way, the railroad switches are still manually switched.
In addition to contemplating magnificent trees and excursions, visitors to the park are offered the following types of entertainment:
- horseback riding;
- bike rides on specially laid routes;
- rafting;
- camping;
- Cafe.
What state is Redwood National Park in?
There is no specific address for the reserve.
Its location is northern California, an hour's drive from San Francisco toward Oregon. This is a coastal zone between cities such as Eureka and Crescent City.