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a Forest from Fire

The canopy of leaves cloaking the Giant Forest covers the work of a dramatic change agent - Fire. Fire has shaped every sequoia you see. Young trees grow tall fast to rise above the low flames that typically burn here. Then they put on thick bark, which protects them from most fire. Black scars on the sequoia trunks reveal the trees' ability to survive.

 

If today's view includes smoke from a park fire, this may be a good day for the sequoia grove. Flames clear forest litter and fertilize the soil, prompt cones to release seeds, and open the forest to sun. This creates the ideal seedbed for sequoias. Other trees and wildlife benefit from the fire's effects, as well.

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Uploaded on August 5, 2017
Taken on July 27, 2017