The coastal redwood species is enormous, and the tallest tree species on earth. It is not uncommon to see trees of this type between 200 and 300 feet high, with the bark alone being a foot thick.
The biggest known redwood is 379 feet tall and named "Hyperion."
There are a number of redwood trees that are known to exceed 600 years of age, and the oldest known example is over 2,200 years old.
Forty-five percent of the old-growth redwoods are encompassed in a network of California State Parks, plus the Redwood National Park. This covers a mammoth area of roughly 206 square miles.
The forest is home to a large variety of animals, including different types of owls, the bald eagle, bobcats, mountain lions, black bears, deer, elk, coyote, bats and a wide variety of rodents.
In 2007, the national park received over 385,000 visitors.
Article Written By Edwin Thomas
Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.