Humboldt Redwoods State Park
| Humboldt Redwoods State Park | |
|---|---|
 The "Darkness at Noon" effect is synonymous with Redwood Groves. |
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| Location | Humboldt County, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Rio Dell |
| Coordinates | 40°18′43″N 123°58′18″W / 40.31194°N 123.97167°WCoordinates: 40°18′43″N 123°58′18″W / 40.31194°N 123.97167°W |
| Area | 53,000 acres (210 km2) |
| Established | 1921 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Humboldt Redwoods State Park is located 30 miles (48 km) south of Eureka, California, near Weott, in southern Humboldt County, within northern California. Established by the Save-the-Redwoods League in 1921 with the dedication of the Raynal Bolling Memorial Grove, it has grown to become the third largest park in the California State Park System, containing nearly 53,000 acres (210 km2) through acquisitions and gifts to the state. It is part of the Northern California coastal forests ecoregion and has 23,600 acres (96 km2) of old-growth forests[1] that include the largest contiguous remaining old-growth redwood forest in the world, which totals approximately 10,000 acres.[2] At 17,000 acres (69 km2) this forest, comprising the entire Bull Creek watershed and the Rockefeller Forest,[3] is a pristine, diverse ecosystem unequaled by any other in any of the other Redwood parks, including Redwood National and State Parks.
Nearby U.S. Route 101, which generally follows the Eel River and its South Fork in this part of the North Coast, offers easy access to the park and nearby towns with connections to the scenic highway, Avenue of the Giants, also mostly located within or near park boundaries.
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[edit] History
The original inhabitants of the area were the Sinkyone, who continue to live in the region today. In the 1850's, white settlers began felling the redwoods, seeking to clear the land for homes and pasture. About 20 years later the timber industry moved into the region, and railways and roads were routed through the area for accessibility to the trees. In 1918, the Save-the-Redwoods League formed and began preserving redwood populations in the area, including the area that became Humboldt Redwoods State Park.[2]
[edit] Redwoods
The park is famed for its coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), many of which grow to over 90 m in height. The forests on alluvial flats are almost pure redwood forest, but the forests on the slopes contain also Coast Douglas-fir.
Over 100 of the 137 known trees over 106.7 meters (350 ft) tall (all coast redwoods) occur in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It is home to the 4th tallest measured living redwood, the Stratosphere Giant, which was measured at 112.94 meters (368.6 ft) in 2004. Stratosphere Giant was the tallest known living redwood until the discovery of three taller trees in Redwood National Park; the tallest, Hyperion, measuring 115.55 m in September 2006.[4]
Before the discovery of Hyperion, the tallest redwood ever measured was the "Dyerville Giant", also in Humboldt State Park. The tree, the tallest tree ever measured, was 113.4 meters high when it fell in March 1991. It was estimated to be 1600 years old.
[edit] Recreation
The park has a five mile road that travels throughout it, and over 100 miles of hiking trails. Visitors to the park can go horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, and swimming in the South Fork Eel River. The park is prone to fire hazards, and camping is permitted in specified areas. Almost 250 sites are available for use, including an equestrian camp. Nearby Burlington, serves as a main camping spot, alongside Albee.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Bolsinger, Charles L.; Waddell, Karen L. (1993), Area of old-growth forests in California, Oregon, and Washington, United States Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Resource Bulletin PNW-RB-197, http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_rb197.pdf
- ^ a b c Barbara Sinotte (1 June 1996). California: A Guide to the State & National. Hunter Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-1-55650-733-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=n0E8wQLJ_yUC. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
- ^ http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=425 Humboldt Redwoods State Park
- ^ Prof Ste phen Sillett's webpage
[edit] External links
- Humboldt Redwoods SP - official site (California Department of Parks & Recreation)
- Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association - extensive information on the park's cultural resources, history, and preservation of assets
- Landmark Trees Archive - complete list of largest & tallest redwoods by the Tall Trees Club
