Muir Woods National Monument
| Muir Woods National Monument | |||
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| Location: | California , United States | ||
| Next city: | San Francisco | ||
| Surface: | 2.1 km² | ||
| Founding: | January 9, 1908 | ||
| Visitors: | 776,000 (2005) | ||
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Muir Woods National Monument is a sanctuary in Marin County about 15 kilometers north of San Francisco in the US state of California . This national monument protects the last remaining giant trees of the coastal redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ), the tallest tree on earth, in the San Francisco region . The reserve was founded in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt after the US Congressman William Kent and his wife Elizabeth bought 120 hectares from private funds and given them to the federal government for a specific purpose. At the request of the founder, it was named after the naturalist and conservationist John Muir .
description
The forest area is located on a small stream on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais and is a popular recreational area for residents of the greater San Francisco area. It was expanded in the 1960s to 2.2 km² today.
The main attraction of the flora seen in this National Monument are the coastal redwoods. The tallest tree specimens currently living on earth come from this tree species and reach a height of up to 115 m. In the Muir Woods National Monument, the tallest specimens are about 79 m high. The coastal redwoods here are on average around 500 to 800 years old; the oldest specimen in the National Monument is said to be over 1100 years old. In the shade of these giant trees, other tree species that have adapted to the lack of light on the forest floor thrive, such as the California laurel ( Umbellularia californica ), the Oregon maple ( Acer macrophyllum ) and Lithocarpus densiflorus . The California bay laurel can tilt its crown towards the light because of its strong root system; The Oregon maple tries to make optimal use of the scarce light supply by developing the largest leaves of all maple species. Seedlings of Lithocarpus densiflorus can successfully wait for years for any gaps in the canopy of the giant trees if their growth is delayed; the leaf structure is also adapted to the shadow position.
Because of its small size, Muir Woods National Monument is co-administered by the neighboring Golden Gate National Recreation Area .
A spontaneous visit has not been possible since 2018. Parking spaces are limited and must be reserved in advance. Alternatively, a shuttle bus with three transfer stations is offered on weekends and on summer days, which must also be reserved in advance.
Surroundings
Neighboring protected and recreational areas are Golden Gate National Recreation Area , Point Reyes National Seashore and Mount Tamalpais State Park .
Web links
- National Park Service: Muir Woods National Monument (official site; English)
- West coast USA: Muir Woods Detailed information and many photos from the park (German)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Muir Woods Reservations - Home. Accessed August 8, 2018 .