The California Coast redwood is a magnificent tree that grows along the west coast of the United States from Central California to Southern Oregon. It thrives in the foggy climate along the sides of the mountains that face the Pacific Ocean and only rarely occursmore than 50 miles from the coast. It is a close relative of the Sequoias which occur in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Redwoods are among the world's tallest living trees. They commonly grow 200 to 275 feet high and often have trunks reaching 8 to 12 feet in diameter. The tallest redwood known is in Humboldt County.
The bark of a redwood can be 12 inches thick and resists fire. The wood is not strong, but is highly resistant to decay. It is often used where durability is important.
While redwoods regenerate well and can be grown for timber, many ancient and irreplaceable groves have been preserved in parks.
