Vegetable world our planet is very diverse and rich. It has hundreds of thousands of species of living organisms. The most common plants in our world are gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Some of the plants are truly amazing in size, both in height and in thickness. Their lifespan is hundreds of years and one can only imagine what they have seen in their lifetime. We have prepared for you a list that includes the largest and tallest trees in the world.

All ten of the largest and tallest trees grow in the United States, and they all belong to a single species - the evergreen sequoia.

These trees are conifers and are relatives of the common cypress. They grow in one place on the planet - on the Pacific coast of the United States. Sequoias are so amazing and huge that each of the record trees has its own name.

1: Hyperion

The height of this tree is 115.61 meters. It was discovered and measured in 2006, it turned out that this is the tallest plant on the planet. This sequoia also grows in Redwood Park, where exactly it grows is hidden from tourists. It is believed that the age of this giant is 700-800 years.

2: Helios

In second place is another giant, which belongs to the same species. The height of this sequoia is 114.58 meters, and the trunk has a diameter of 4.96 meters. Until 2006, Helios was considered the highest on the planet, but then a tree was found that is higher than it and it is it that is at the first number on our list. Helios is located in Redwood Park, California.

3: Icarus

This is another American sequoia that grows in the same area. The height of this tree is 113.14 meters, and the diameter of the trunk is 3.78 meters. This tree was discovered only in 2006. Its location is hidden from tourists.

4: Stratosphere Giant

Fourth place is occupied by the sequoia, which has a very appropriate name - the Giant of the Stratosphere. The height of this tree is 113.11 meters, and the diameter of the trunk is 5.18 meters. This plant is located in Humboldt Park.

5: National Geographic Society

In fifth place is the sequoia, which has a rather long name: the National Geographic Society. It is native to Redwood Creek. Until 1995, this sequoia was considered the tallest tree in the world. But at the moment, even larger giants have been found.

The height of this tree is 112.71 meters, and the diameter of the trunk is 4.39 meters.

6: Orion

This is an evergreen Sequoia (Sequoia sempervirene), which grows in Redwood Park, all in the same California. The height of the tree is 112.63 meters and the diameter of the trunk is 4.33 meters.

7: Lauralyn

8: Rockefeller

This is also a sequoia, which is located in the Humboldt National Park in the USA. Its height is 112.6 meters, and the exact diameter of the trunk, unfortunately, is unknown.

9: Paradox

Sequoia evergreen (Sequoia sempervirene). This plant is also located on the west coast of the United States, in the state of California. The height of this tree is 112.56 meters and the diameter is 3.9 meters.

10: Mendocino Tree

Sequoia evergreen (Sequoia sempervirene). This tree is located in California, USA.

The height of this giant is 112.20 meters, and the diameter is 4.19 meters. The exact location of this tree is hidden so that tourists do not harm it.

11: Baobab

We have described to you the tallest trees in the world, in this regard, the sequoia has no competitors. But, if we talk about plant giants, then it is worth mentioning the baobab. This is the thickest and most massive tree in the world. Baobabs grow in Africa, their height is small - about 18-25 meters, but the diameter of the trunk can reach 10 meters. It is very simple to explain such a strange appearance of this tree. The baobab has very porous wood and accumulates water in it during the rainy season. Then uses this stock during a drought. This tree has a huge crown, its diameter can reach forty meters. The wood of the tree is very loose and easily destroyed by fungal diseases. Huge hollows are obtained, which Africans use for their own purposes.

12: Banyan

We, the inhabitants of Eurasia, are unlikely to have been able to see trees more than 40-50 meters high in our native spaces. And if you managed to see a 60-meter pine tree, then it simply took your breath away from the grandeur. Now imagine that the height of the tallest tree in the world is over 115 meters! This is the height of a 40-story building or the height of three ordinary pine trees!

So, the topic of our article today is the tallest trees in the world.

The tallest tree in the world: sequoia

Oddly enough, the TOP 10 giant trees grow in one, relatively small area - along the Pacific coast in California. These are giant, belonging to the cypress family - Sequoia semprevirens.

In addition to size, the age of the sequoia is also impressive. So, based on the results of excavations, these plants already existed 208-144 million years ago, that is, in the Jurassic period. But if then sequoias were widespread in the northern hemisphere, now they huddle in a small limited area with a length of 450 km - from the Klamath Mountains (Southern Oregon) to the end of the Californian Sierra Nevada. The places where sequoias grow are part of the reserves: biosphere reserve and Sequoia National Park, as well as Humboldt-Redvus National Park. The oldest sequoias in existence today are 3,500 years old.

Before we know what is remarkable tallest tree in the world, let's dwell on the biological characteristics of the sequoia. The tallest trees on earth have a cone-shaped crown, and the bark on the trunks is extremely thick, up to 0.3 m. By the way, immediately after removal, the bark has a pleasant reddish color, darkening over time, from which another sequoia name comes from - “mahogany ". The root system of giants is not deep, but wide. In young trees, the leaves are flat, elongated, about 1.5-2.5 cm, and in old sequoias at the top, the crowns take the form of scales about 0.5-1 cm in length. Sequoia seeds are 1.5-3 cm long, ovoid, with two dozen spirally twisted scales. Seeds ripen 8-9 months, each fruit contains 3-7 seeds.

Tallest tree: 1st, Hyperion

Only one and a half dozen trees in the world managed to jump the bar of 110 meters, another fifty - the bar of 105 meters. Some giants succeeded others in the rank of record holder. On this moment, according to official data, The tallest tree in the world is the Hyperion sequoia.

The leader of our rating was discovered in 2006 by amateur naturalists Michael Taylor and Chris Atkins (by the way, it was they who found the other two tallest trees on earth) in Redwoods Park (California), in a tributary of Redwood Creek. The height of the tallest tree at that time was 115.5 m. Measurements of the current year, 2015, showed that the tree had grown by 16 cm. However, its growth was slowed down - this was facilitated by woodpeckers that damaged the top of the tree. Since the closest competitor to the tallest tree on the planet is 114.58 cm tall and grows faster than Hyperion, over time, the tallest tree may give way to the palm.

Hyperion's trunk diameter is 4.84 meters at a height of one and a half meters from the ground. It is located in the depths of the national park, and its exact location was not disclosed to the public - so that tourists do not disturb the giant's ecosystem. The tallest tree in the world is about 750 years old, and the area of ​​​​this sequoia is estimated at 502 "square".

Tallest tree: 2nd place, Helios

On the other side of the Redwood Creek tributary grows a tree, recognized in the summer of 2006 as the tallest tree on earth, but resting on the lava of the winners for a little more than two months. Now Helios - that's what they called this sequoia with a height of 114.58 m - is in second place in the ranking. Its trunk diameter is 4.96 m.

Unlike the leader, the location of Helios was not hidden from tourists, and everyone has the opportunity to admire it.

Tallest tree: 3rd place, Icarus

In 2006, in the same Redwoods park, near the same tributary of Redwood Creek in California, a sequoia Icarus was discovered with a height of 113.14 m. The diameter of the trunk of this tree was 3.78 meters.

Tallest Tree: 4th, Giant of the Stratosphere

For six whole years - from the moment it was discovered in 2000 until 2006 - the giant of the Stratosphere was considered the tallest tree on earth. It was discovered in Humboldt National Park in Rockefeller Forest. The first measurements showed a height of 112.34 meters. After 10 years, the sequoia grew to 113.11 meters. The exact location of the giant of the Stratosphere has not been disclosed.

Giant of the Stratosphere

In the Sequoia and Humboldt-Redvus national parks, there are still many giant sequoia Sequoia semprevirens, which literally breathe down the back of the leader's head. Some of them have long been considered the tallest trees on the planet - for example, Mendocino, the sequoia of the National Geographic Society.

However, not only sequoias can boast of large sizes. You have probably heard of the tall eucalyptus trees that grow in Australia. At the moment, the height of the highest eucalyptus is 101 meters. This is the regal Eucalyptus Centurion, discovered on the island of Tasmania in 2008. The diameter of the trunk of this tree is 40.5 cm, and the age is at least four hundred years. There are reports that these trees used to grow up to 155 m in height, but this has not been documented in any way.

Eucalyptus Centurion

In general, the height of the largest plants on the planet becomes smaller over time. The reason for this is human activity and the violation of ecosystems that are not able to "feed" the giants. Perhaps very soon, in the still not fully explored places of our planet, a new one will be found. Nevertheless, we have something to admire, something to keep and appreciate today.
Tatyana Kuzmenko, member of the editorial board of the Sobcorrespondent of the online publication "AtmWood. Wood-industrial bulletin"

A tree is a perennial plant that consists of roots that feed it, a solid trunk wrapped in bark and a crown (branches and leaves, different in shape and in their properties). They are divided into two types - coniferous and deciduous. Both those and other people have learned to process and receive benefits from them for themselves.

But there are trees on which the human hand should never climb. These are the best of the best trees: the tallest, the largest, the heaviest, and so on.

sequoias

Not one tree, but a whole family can be safely attributed to the highest plants with a solid trunk. Four examples stand out in particular. All of them belong to the same tree species - these are sequoias. These breeds are conifers and mainly grow in North America along the ocean, as they need a lot of moisture.

Structure

In appearance, the breed is similar to other coniferous trees: the branches grow horizontally, the needles (needle-shaped leaves) are evergreen, they have cones, from which, when dried, seeds fall out and the life of new trees begins. The roots are not deep, but they are very powerful. After all, they have to keep upright and feed trees, the mass of which reaches 1000 tons. The bark is very thick, compared to other rocks, the thickness reaches 30 centimeters. Inside the tree is red, so it is used in the furniture industry. Although sequoia does not have other necessary qualities from mahogany (beautiful wood texture, ductility to processing).

The length of the trees listed above is more than 110 meters and differs only by a few meters. Work on measuring their growth was carried out by scientists who, using a laser, were able to determine the desired parameter only in 2006.

The tallest tree in the world

Until this moment, the book of records recorded the best representative called the giant of the stratosphere. Its length is 112 meters and 70 centimeters. And after laser measurements, it turned out that there are three more trees that are superior to those described above. The tallest tree is recognized as a specimen over 115 meters long called Hyperion. The second place was taken by a tree 114 meters 69 centimeters long called Helios. And the third was Icarus, he grew to 113 meters 14 centimeters. But in order to be given official status by the book of records, all trees must be measured with a special rope lowered from the top of the tree.

All these giants are located in the state of California. They are alive and continue to grow a year, adding an average of 25 centimeters. According to scientists, their opportunities for growth have not exhausted themselves. The critical length of the trees is located at around 130 meters above the ground. Then there will be problems with feeding the cells with water due to gravity. Although there are cases when trees were described, the dimensions of which reached 155 meters.

Information about such a tree came from the shores of the Australian continent back in the 19th century. It was a representative of marvelous trees - eucalyptus. But what happened to him later, and why the current representatives of this tree species do not reach such sizes, is not known now. That gives ground for further reflection and scientific research.

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There are many tall trees around the world whose extraordinary height has been exaggerated and debatable. However, with the help of the latest measurement tools, such as laser rangefinders and tape fall measurements, it was possible to find out the true height of giant trees. Here ten tallest trees in the world, which remain the same as the world changes around them.

Almost all of the presented trees are so tall that it is simply impossible to photograph them completely. Dense vegetation also interferes with this.

The height of the tree is 112.20 m.

Located in Montgomery Woods (a nature reserve in the USA), Mendocino held the title of the world's tallest tree from 1996 to 2000. Other sequoias grow near Mendocino, but if you look at them from above, the giant towers over his fellows in the same way that Arnold Schwarzenegger towers over the kids in the movie Kindergarten Cop.

Height - 112.56 m.

The tree, located in the forest of John Davison Rockefeller in Humboldt (USA), was considered the tallest tree on the planet until number ten in our rating, that is, from 1995 to 1996. In terms of trunk diameter, it is inferior to Mendocino (3.9 meters versus 4.19 meters). And it was very difficult for researchers and just curious to find it, since there were no photographs or coordinates of the Paradox at that time. Of all the giant trees known today, the Paradox stands out for its beauty.

Height - 112.6 m.

Neighbor of Paradox, also native to California's Humboldt Redwood National Park and the eighth longest tree on Earth. Named after the billionaire, famous not only for his fortune, but also for the number of years he lived. The long, slender "body" of Rockefeller invariably delights those who are lucky enough to see him. And this is not easy to do, since the exact coordinates of most of the tallest trees are kept secret (it’s easier than protecting them from vandal tourists around the clock), and it’s not so easy to distinguish Rockefeller from other sequoias from below. Its trunk diameter has not yet been measured.

Height - 112.62 m.

And again, the “resident” of Humboldt Park got into the top 10 giant trees. It was discovered by Paul Zinke and Al Strangenburger. Like other redwoods, Lauralin is a whole ecosystem, birds nest in it, insects live, lichens and other representatives of the local flora sprout. It is noteworthy that the location of Lauralin is not hidden from the public.

Height - 112.63 m.

One of the tallest trees in California national park Redwood Finding Orion is an almost impossible task because the tree giant sits right next to two other giant sequoias, though it is twice their size when viewed from above. Orion is about 1500 years old.

Height - 112.71 m.

A giant with a long name, belonging to the redwoods, was discovered in 1994. At that time, he was considered the largest known tree in the world and held this title for a year. The tree is located near Redwood Creek, but its exact location is kept secret. In terms of trunk diameter, it is larger than Mendocino and Paradox (4.39 meters).

Altitude at the time of discovery - 112.34 m

This worthy representative of the tallest trees was found in 2000 on the territory of the Humboldt National Park. Then the tree was 112.34 meters high, but continues to grow. In 2010, it reached a height of 113.11 meters. Like all the other numbers on our hit parade, the Stratospheric Giant belongs to the redwoods and is fenced in by many trees that are almost as tall. The tree's exact location is being hidden to prevent it from being damaged by overly active citizens.

Height - 113.14 m.

In third place on the longest tree chart is the redwood discovered by Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor in Redwood Park, California. Icarus got his name for the dead, sun-bleached "crown". However, there are enough other trees in Redwood, with dead tops, so it will be intentionally difficult to find Icarus, and the public is not told exactly where he is.

Height - 114.58 m.

Another tallest sequoia tree found in the Redwood park area by Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor in July 2006. It is not much shorter than the competitor, which occupies the first line of the rating.

1. Hyperion - 115.61 m

Leading the top 10 tallest trees in the world is a sequoia from Northern California, bearing the proud name of Hyperion. The volume of its trunk is 502 m³, and its age is estimated at 700-800 years. Tireless naturalists Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor have discovered a tree in Redwood National Park and believe that Hyperion's height could have been higher if not for woodpeckers. They damaged the trunk of a titanic tree at its very top. The last measurement of Hyperion was carried out in 2015.

Video version

Sequoias, also known as redwoods, are the tallest tree species on earth. They could compete with representatives of the species "pretty fir" (aka Douglas fir) and eucalyptus trees in Australia, but the largest of these trees were ruthlessly cut. By the way, the same fate awaited Hyperion, but fortunately for him, the Redwood Valley in the 70s of the last century became the Redwood National Park and cutting down trees was prohibited there. There are currently hundreds of sequoias exceeding 100 m in height and there are no living trees of other species exceeding this height.

Although Hyperion is unsurpassed in terms of trunk length, it is inferior in volume, mass and age to a sequoia called General Sherman. The height of General Sherman is modest, compared to other representatives of the rating of the highest trees - 83.8 m, but the weight is a record 1900 tons, the trunk volume is 1487 m³, and the age reaches from 2300 to 2700 years.

The tallest tree in the world - Hyperion

Up until August 2006, the title " tallest tree in the world” belonged to a giant 112.7-meter sequoia, nicknamed the “stratospheric giant”. It is located in the Humboldt National Park in California. To give you some idea of ​​the massive size of this tree, let's say it's twice the height of the Statue of Liberty, minus the foundation.

But the giant lost its status when two naturalists, Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor, stumbled across a cluster of trees in California's Redwood National Park that were taller than any they had seen before. They made preliminary measurements using professional laser equipment, and found not one, not two, but three trees that were taller than the "stratospheric giant."

Hyperion means "very high"

The height of the tallest tree, named Hyperion, is 115 meters.. If you have no idea how big Hyperion is, then imagine: the height of Big Ben in London is 96.3 m, that is, it is pretty much lower than this tree.

This gigantic redwood (sequoia) would have been even taller if not for the woodpeckers, who damaged the very top of the trunk. This slowed down Hyperion's upward movement.

When Atkins and Taylor announced their discovery, a team of scientists led by environmentalist Steve Sillett of state university named after Humboldt arrived at the park to measure the find.

This was done in the most precise way: Sillett climbed to the top of the tree to lower the tape from there directly to the ground. The descent of this tape was filmed for National Geographic.

Hyperion was very lucky: in the 70s of the 20th century, just a few hundred kilometers from it, there was a clear felling of trees. About two weeks before Hyperion would be approached by a man with a saw, the Redwood Valley turned into national park Redwood. Lumber companies feared this would happen and worked 24/7 harvesting valuable mahogany and ruthlessly destroying old growth forests that were there long before humans entered the valley. Most redwoods, from which the tallest trees grow, were less fortunate than Hyperion. To date, only 4% of mahogany forests have survived in America.

By redwood standards, Hyperion is quite young and still growing. Sillett believes that the tree is 'only' 600 years old, which is about 20 years in human terms.

Hyperion's exact location is kept secret by park rangers to avoid the tourist crush near the tree. This can upset the delicate balance of the forest ecosystem and harm the tree. After all, tourists can not only admire huge tree, but also chip off part of the bark “for memory” or scribble something on it in the style of “Jack and Sally were here.”

As Sillett put it, trees can't outrun the paparazzi like people do, and history teaches us that bad things happen to trees that become too popular.

It is not at all clear whether Hyperion is the tallest of the redwoods or simply the largest sequoia known to us. After all, 96% of redwood forests have become victims of lumberjacks.

Tallest tree ever measured

The tallest tree in the world that was measured in the 19th century is not a sequoia, but a mountain ash.

• In 1872, the report of the Australian inspector of state forests, William Ferguson, mentions a fallen and scorched eucalyptus regal (aka Eucalyptus regnans, aka mountain ash), which during his lifetime had height at least 132 meters.
• Around the same time, several specimens 140 m tall were recorded. Alas, we cannot verify these measurements: all these trees have been cut down. Rowan has been and is an important building material in Australia.

The tallest living eucalyptus trees can be found in Tasmania. The height of the eucalyptus bearing the proud nickname "Centurion" is about 100 meters. It is the tallest living deciduous tree on earth. . It was discovered in October 2008 by an aircraft-mounted laser, which measured terrain elevation, forest height and forest biomass.

How tall can a tree be

In an article entitled "An investigation into the limits of maximum tree growth," Jonathan Amos of the BBC's science department argues that the maximum the height of the tree can be about 130 meters.

When the tree reaches this mark, it will pump less and less less water And nutrients. They simply won't be enough for new growth.

There is no living tree in the world that would grow up to 130 meters.

There are numerous trees around the world whose extraordinary height has been exaggerated and disputed. However, with the help of the latest measuring instruments, such as the laser range finder, mankind has been able to figure out the height of trees without causing serious deviations.

We bring to your attention the ten tallest trees that have remained to grow in their planting sites, regardless of the changes in the world around them.

Rating of the tallest trees in the world

Mendocino - 112.20 m.

This tree is in the State nature reserve Montgomery Woods, which is a public property park located in California, USA. It is one of the tallest trees in the world, and "Mendiziono" was the tallest tree in the world from 1996 to 2000. The type of this tree is sequoia. This tree has a height of almost 112.20 m and an average diameter of 4.19 m.

Scientists conducted research and found that the tree is at least 1000 years old.

Paradox - 112.56 m.

Next on the list of the tallest trees in the world is Paradox, a variety of which was bred by the American breeder and gardener Luther Burbank. "Paradox" is a mixture of black walnut and English walnut. It also belongs to the sequoia tree genus. Paradox is located in California, USA. Its height is 112.56 m and its diameter is 3.90 m.

Rockefeller - 112.60 m.

Another tree on our list, located in Redwood National Park, California, USA. The exact diameter of this giant is unknown, but its height is 112.60 m.

Lauralin - 113.03 m.

Also "Lauralin" refers to trees long-lived. After some research, scientists found out that it lives for almost 1600 years.

Orion - 112.63 m

Another tallest tree on Earth, located in Redwood National Park. "Orion" also refers to the sequoia type. The height of the Orion is 112.63 meters, and the diameter is 4.33 meters.

National Geographic Society - 112.71 m.

Until 1995, the National Geographic Society was the tallest tree on the planet. But then mankind found even bigger giants, and therefore this tree fell to fifth place on our list.

The National Geographic Society is growing in the same Redwood National Park. The height of this giant is 112.71 meters and the diameter is 4.39 meters.

Giant of the stratosphere - 113.7 m.

The fourth tallest tree on planet Earth. Its height is 113.11 meters above ground level, and its diameter is approximately 5.18 m. It was discovered in July 2000 in California, USA. To ensure safety from damaging tourists, the exact location and position of the tree is not disclosed to the public.

Icarus - 113.14 m.

The Icarus tree is located in Redwoods Park, a tributary of Redwood Creek, California, United States of America. The height of this tree is almost 113.14 m, and the diameter is almost 3.78 m. "Icarus" was found in July 2006.

Helios - 114.58 m.

With a height of 114.58 m, "Helios" is the second largest tree on Earth. This tree was at the top of the ranking until August 2006. It is also located in Redwoods Park, a tributary of Redwood Creek, California.

Hyperion - 115.61 m.

Hyperion - tallest tree in the world. It was discovered in August 2006. This sequoia also grows in Redwood Park, but the exact location is hidden from tourists. Scientists have calculated that average age this giant is about 700-900 years old.

The height of the Hyperion is 115.61 m.

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