Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument is a protected area in Marin County about 15 kilometers north of San Francisco in the U.S. state of California. This National Monument protects the last remaining in the San Francisco Giant trees of the coastal sequoia (Sequoia sempervirens), the highest tree species on earth. The reserve was founded in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt, after the member of the U.S. Congress, William Kent and his wife Elizabeth had bought 120 acres of private funds and earmarked handed over to the federal government. 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 recreation area for residents of the metropolitan area of San Francisco. It was expanded in the 1960s to today 2.2 km ².

The main attraction of the seen in this National Monument plant world are the coastal redwoods. The highest currently living on earth tree specimens come from this tree species and can reach up to 115 m altitude. In Muir Woods National Monument, the highest specimens are about 79 m high. The coastal redwoods are on average about 500 to 800 years old here; the oldest specimen in the National Monument to be over 1100 years old. In the shadow of these giant trees thrive adapted to the lack of light on the forest floor other tree species such as the California laurel ( Umbellularia californica ), the Oregon Maple ( Acer macrophyllum ) and Lithocarpus densiflorus. The California laurel can by virtue of its strong root system tend his crown towards the light; the Oregon maple tried optimally use the scarce light availability by forming the largest leaves of all Maple species. Lithocarpus densiflorus of seedlings can wait for any gaps in the canopy of giant trees successfully for years with growth retardation; and the blade structure is adapted to the shadow area.

Because of the small size of Muir Woods National Monument is co-managed by the adjacent Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Environment

Adjacent conservation and recreation areas are Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Point Reyes National Seashore and Mount Tamalpais State Park.