Couple on Foggy Trail in Redwoods

Back to Search Results

Redwoods National Park was established in 1968 to preserve coastal redwoods, the earth's tallest living tree. In early geological times, these trees were widely spread across North America. When the park was established, it was estimated that within 20 to 30 years, all redwoods would be gone because of current logging practices. Today, they are found only in a narrow band along the moisture-rich northern coast of California. Redwoods are remnants of the age of dinosaurs--some have been growing a thousand years or more. Measuring more than 200 feet high (occasionally more than 300), the trunks are 15-20 feet in diameter (specimens up to 25 feet.) Of the park's 106,000 acres, about 40,000 are considered "old growth" with trees 400 years and older. The park is the most expensive at a cost of $1.8 billion with $33 million for rehabilitating the watershed of Redwood Creek.
© ©1993 Melissa Farlow/AURORA - Contact
< previous image next image >