Officially, the tallest tree on the planet is located in California and reaches a height of almost 116 meters, but researchers note that the theoretical limit is even higher.
Our planet is huge and unique, with many amazing animals, insects, and plants hiding in its most secret corners. Forests are called the “green lungs” of the planet for a reason, as they are responsible for the amount of oxygen on the planet that is so necessary for humanity, Science Focus writes.
The officially registered tallest tree on Earth is located in California, USA. It is considered to be a giant sequoia, which was identified in 2006. The researchers note that the size of the tree is quite impressive: the height of the sequoia reaches 115.85 meters, and its width is about 7 meters. For comparison, the Statue of Liberty in New York is only 93 meters high, while London’s Big Ben is 96 meters high.
Despite the very impressive size of the California redwood, scientists believe that some trees can actually reach much greater heights. Scientists note that trees grow very tall when three factors are present:
- large amounts of water;
- a large amount of nutrients;
- competition for sunlight.
As the trees stretch upward, gravity becomes stronger. The researchers note that plants and trees carry water to their leaves for photosynthesis in a tube called the xylem.
However, if there is not enough water or gravity is too strong, this column of water can literally burst, creating potentially deadly air bubbles. As a result, the scientists concluded that there is an upper limit above which the tree is unlikely to grow – it is between 122 and 130 meters. Thus, the tallest tree growing on Earth today has almost reached its theoretical maximum.
