The Boole Tree is a
giant sequoia in the
Giant Sequoia National Monument,
Fresno County,
California. The Boole Tree is the eighth tallest sequoia in the world and is the largest in terms of base circumference at 112 feet. It is estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. The tree's stature is accentuated by its isolation above the Kings River where it towers over the rest of the forest.
The Boole tree is the largest in the
Converse Basin Grove, which is 5 miles (8 km) from the
General Grant Grove
General Grant Grove, a section of the greater Kings Canyon National Park, was established by the U.S. Congress in 1890 and is located in Fresno County, California. The primary attraction of General Grant Grove is the giant sequoia trees that popu ...
in
Kings Canyon National Park. Converse Basin used to be a large grove, but was logged of most of its giant sequoias between 1892 and 1918. Now only perhaps 60–100 large specimens survive out of thousands. However, this grove is still the second largest contiguous grove in the world.
Namesake
The Boole Tree was named around 1895 by A.H. Sweeny, a
Fresno doctor, after Franklin A. Boole, a supervisor of the logging operation who spared the tree due to its great size.
Description
The Boole Tree was once thought to be the largest tree in the world, but it is now known to be the
sixth largest, with five other giant sequoias surpassing it in size: the
General Sherman,
General Grant
Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General of the United States ...
,
President,
Lincoln, and
Stagg Stagg is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Amos Alonzo Stagg (1862–1965), American collegiate coach in multiple sports, primarily football
*Amos Alonzo Stagg Jr. (1899–1996), American football player and football and basketb ...
trees.
Despite this, Boole is still the largest in terms of circumference, with a base measuring .
Located among shorter
Scouler willows that have grown in the area following logging, the tree stands out at a height of 268 feet. It is likely growing faster due to a lack of competition in its modified environment, and its survival may also be attributed to the reduction of fuel in the area since logging ceased in the 1900s.
Dimensions
See also
*
Big Lonely Doug - a large Douglas fir whose immediate surroundings were also clearcut
*
List of largest giant sequoias
*
List of oldest trees
This is a list of the oldest-known trees, as reported in reliable sources. Definitions of what constitutes an individual tree vary. In addition, tree ages are derived from a variety of sources, including documented "tree-ring" (dendrochronologica ...
*
List of individual trees
The following is a list of notable trees. Trees listed here are regarded as important or specific by their historical, national, locational, natural or mythological context. The list includes actual trees located throughout the world, as well as ...
*
References
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Individual giant sequoia trees
Giant Sequoia National Monument
Natural history of Fresno County, California