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(animated stereo) Pawling Sycamore, a giant Witness

To animate: either view original size or scroll down to the first comment.

 

Details and history:

The National Parks Service identifies old trees that were present during important events in US history, collectively designating them Witness trees. This sycamore at Pawlings farm was one of the few trees not harvested by the continental army during the winter encampment of 1777 and is older than the nation.

 

A tree survey of Valley Forge park indicates these dimensions: circumference, 21.4 ft (6.5 m); height: 82.9 ft (25.3 m); spread: 142 ft (43.3 m). There are no people in the photo to indicate scale as the area around the tree is closed to the public. This is likely for the tree's protection but it could also be to guard visitors from falling branches. Several are larger than many free standing trees and some, trailing out of frame to the left, are so massive they rest on the ground.

 

For scale: the door of the adjacent building, if it is standard size, should be slightly taller and wider than an adult.

 

Quick Links to related items

Pawling sycamore photos on flickr

Pawlings farm images on flickr

 

How to make it

Two images taken with the cha-cha method (moving camera) were aligned and the gif was generated in stereophotomaker.

 

 

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Uploaded on September 27, 2012
Taken on September 27, 2012