The unique Redwood National Park, California

National Park Redwood is a place on Earth that you want to visit again and again, no matter what the weather is like on the street.

general description

Redwood National Park (see photo below) is a UNESCO heritage since 1980, and one of the most famous reserves in the United States of America. Its size is 430 square kilometers. This amazing reserve is famous for its picturesque plantations of ancient forests of sequoia and mahogany. Also these trees are known for their wear-resistant characteristics and survivability. 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 preserves untouched fauna and flora. Some 75,000 rare species of mammals, birds and animals have found shelter here (for example, the western toad, the California brown pelican, the bald eagle, the red deer, Roosevelt's moose and others). Fans of the famous epic star "Star Wars" no doubt learn in the landscapes of the park landscapes of the green planet Endor, as it was here that the final episode of the fantastic kinotrilogy was filmed. Currently, the territory on which the National Park "Redwood" (California), is one of the most significant and protected in the United States.

History of occurrence

The first state reserves were organized in the 16th century with the goal of preserving species of flora and fauna that are on the verge of extinction. On their territory it was forbidden to hunt, cut down trees, collect grasses, plants and their fruits. Later, there was a need to create not only reserved areas, but also places for public leisure. In the settlements, squares and parks began to appear.

In 1848, in northern California, with the onset of the gold rush to the territory once belonged to the Cherokee Indians, representatives of the timber industry came and proceeded to the ruthless systematic cutting of the mahogany forests. Already by 1918, a fund for the protection of sequenced forests was established. But by the time of the official formation of the state reserve on October 2, 1968, ninety percent of the forests of sequoia and mahogany had been destroyed. On this day, US President Lyndon Johnson signed an order to create a national park "Redwood" (in literal translation - "red forest"). It consisted of three amalgamated parks: Del-Norte Coast Redwoods, Jededia-Smith and Prairie Creek. Its total area at that time was 23,500 hectares. Later, in 1978, the territory of the reserve managed to increase by another 19,400 hectares due to the adopted decision of the Congress.

In 1983, the Redwood National Park was declared a biosphere reserve and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The forest area reached its current size in 1994 and is under government protection.

Vegetation

The rich plant world of the Redwood Reserve is represented to us by 700 species of higher plants.

A significant and most part of the park is occupied by the forests of the California red mammoth sequoia tree (Latin Sequoia sempervirens), which belongs to the monotypic family of the Cypress wood family. The crown has a conical shape, the thickness of the bark is 30 cm, the length of the leaves reaches 25 mm, the cones 32 mm in length, the height of the tree is up to 130 m, the diameter of the trunk is 5-11 m.

Sequoia trees (Sequoia sempervi-rens, Sequoiadendron giganteum) are a coastal subspecies of mahogany (S. mahagoni). They are the highest presently existing on Earth and grow on the Pacific coast of North America between the 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 the scientists' forecasts, the championship will be selected by the sequoia Helios (which grows by 2 inches per year), as the growth of Hyperion is suspended due to damage to the trunk caused by woodpeckers.

In addition to the mahogany representatives, rare and beautiful representatives of the flora such as azalea, western trillium, kislitsa, Douglas fir, Californian rhododendron, nephrolepis and others settled in the territory of the Redwood National Park.

What to do in the park?

Majestic redwoods, picturesque landscapes, beautifully equipped camping and other entertainment attract a constant flow of tourists at any time of the year.

The Redwood National Park does not need to be explored on foot. An old railway was laid through the reserve. Previously, it transported the cut down forest, and now there are excursion trains. By the way, the arrows of the railway are still switched manually.

In addition to contemplating majestic trees and excursions, visitors to the park are offered such kinds of entertainment:

• horseback riding;
• Walking on bicycles on specially laid routes;
• rafting;
• camping;
• a cafe.

In what state is the Redwood National Park?

There is no specific address for the reserve.

Its location is northern California, an hour's drive from San Francisco towards Oregon. It is a coastal zone between cities such as Eureka and Crescent City.