When we consider our own dimensions, a tree with a height of 30 meters may seem very large. However, there are many trees in the world that exceed 30 meters in height, and one of them was a Redwood tree that exceeded 90 meters in height.
A gigantic sequoia tree was discovered on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada in Calaveras County, California. One of the reasons we host him in this content today; Being the second largest tree cut down by humans in the world. However, it is not limited to this.
One of the greatest natural beauties we have destroyed: the Mammoth Tree.
Discovered in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the giant sequoia was named after the grove in which it was found: the Mammoth Tree. Approximately 92 meters tall, 29 meters in circumference and 7.62 meters in diameter, the 1,244-year-old tree was large enough to astonish those who saw it. It was even so big that; It seemed unlikely that a person could even look at this entire tree at the same time.
In the 1800s, there was almost no difference between cutting down a huge tree and killing a big bear. A tree and a bear were killed with the same “hunting” impulse. Hunters found and cut down the largest trees and participated in large tree exhibitions and competitions. The thousands of years old Mammoth Tree, which fell victim to this exhibition concept that still continues today, would ignite the fuse of something much bigger.
Like everything else we’ve discovered, we destroyed the Mammoth Tree.
In 1853, after 22 days of work, the huge sequoia tree was cut down by inserting auger. The tree went down in history as the second largest tree cut down by humans.
When its 1,244-year-old body collapsed, almost 40 people could comfortably fit on its 8-meter-diameter log. The huge log was used as a dance floor for a while, then first became the basis for a pavilion; then it left its place to the bowling alley and the bar. One of the pieces taken from the trunk of the tree was sent to New York and some of it is still on display here.
Of course, the discovery and cutting of such a large tree resonated around the world. Tourists began to flock to the area and said, “This is the opportunity!” Those who said they built a hotel in the region. (Unfortunately, it’s a familiar scenario.)
One month before the tree was cut, one of the first reactions came from Gry D. Lowe: “This of course will kill the tree, which is a lot to discuss.” After that, the reactions did not subside.
In 1854, Isaac W. Baker, an amateur painter, depicted the felled tree as follows:
In the picture you see two men measuring the diameter of the log, and another person standing on the fallen part of the tree. The note hanging on the trunk of the fallen tree reads the following ironic sentence: “It is forbidden to take any wood from this tree.”
Of course, not all criticisms were this soft.
As the dates showed October 1, 1853, one of the biggest reactions to the felling of the tree came from Maturin M. Ballou of Gleason’s Pictorial Drawing Room Companion. In his article, he mentioned the Mammoth Tree with these sentences:
“To cut down such a magnificent tree is, in our opinion, a cruel idea, an extraordinary disrespect… Such natural beauty should have been protected by law in Europe; but it costs 30-40k dollars and the buyer cuts it off and uses it as a showpiece only.
We hope no one will ever think of buying Niagara Falls for the same purpose! What mortal on earth would venture such a speculation about these tree mountains? In its natural state, it was a sight to behold, raising its majestic head to the sky and swaying in all its natural beauty, strength and greenery; but now it is nothing more than a monument to the greed of those who sadly destroyed everything connected with it.”
Reactions grew rapidly, with many columnists, environmental scientists and journalists talking about the Mammoth Tree’s carnage.
A portion of the editorial, published in the New York Herald on December 17, 1855, read:
“The most beautiful, most beautiful and symmetrical (if not the largest) of these trees has been cut down. Unless the Goths and Vandals are arrested from this moment on, the destruction of the unique forest will likely continue to the last.
We suggest that the State of California and the Union Congress should intervene to protect these trees, where the rulers of the ancient world are sobering, stunted next to the present-day trees. The forest giants of our own country. We say Congress should intervene on the assumption that these trees are in the public domain and on California’s public lands. Since Congress has already intervened to protect Florida’s public live oak forests from the greed of unscrupulous speculators… Again; It is the duty of the State of California, Congress, and all good citizens to protect and protect. These California monuments of the talents of our American land. This is… let it be law that the Mammoth Grove survives.”
Articles and reactions kept coming as the years went by. Finally, in 1864, it was declared by John Connes that the Yosemite Valley and the grove that is home to the sequoias were secured and protected. Years of struggles and reactions finally paid off.
On the other hand, the area was not turned into a state park until 1931, due to the opposition and efforts of the lumber companies in the area. But the Mammoth Tree was neither the first nor the last…
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