California’s Big Basin Redwoods State Park has been destroyed by wildfires. This is the oldest park in the state. The blaze has damaged the park’s campgrounds and headquarters according to Matador Network.
The historic redwood trees, a species which is known to be the tallest and largest on the planet, have almost all been scorched but are still standing according to The Mercury News. Redwoods are also able to live for thousands of years.
Some of the trees have fallen, some are unscathed and the majority of them are still upright. Some of the trees still standing are burning at the base, according to Mercury News.
Vast majority of giant redwoods in center of Big Basin Redwoods State Park scorched but still standing pic.twitter.com/iWmnPNiqcO
— EthanBaron (@ethanbaron) August 21, 2020
I’m so saddened to hear about the devastation in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, CA’s oldest state park. I love the park and found even the visitor center area as a place of serenity, beauty and peace. Lets hope that most of the redwoods were able to survive the fire. pic.twitter.com/msJKOXuJ5l
— Vincent Staupe (@vstaupe) August 20, 2020
A lot of trees seemed to have endured the blaze and are still standing near the parks headquarters#BigBasin #CZULightningComplexFire pic.twitter.com/hTo9YfJQMh
— Randy Vazquez (@RandyVMedia) August 21, 2020
A large redwood tree near Big Basin Redwoods State Park headquarters breaks off its base after sustaining fire dame during a blaze.#wildfires #CZULightningComplexFire pic.twitter.com/fUd68G0Zst
— Randy Vazquez (@RandyVMedia) August 21, 2020
The humans of Big Basin and Little Basin were safely evacuated before the blaze tore through the park. The blaze from the CZU Lightning Complex Fires are not yet under control.
See inside the park below.
Facts about redwood trees:
- Redwood trees can reach over 90m (300 feet)
- Reedwood trees can live for over 2,000 years
- The trees have extremely thick bark, helping to protect their core from forest fires
- Wood-eating termites are naturally repelled by the bark
- In the 1850s there were over two million acres of redwoods along the coast of California. Approximately 90% of these were destroyed by loggers
- In 1968 a designated area was chosen to help protect the remaining trees
Image credit: Twitter/ @RandyVMedia
