What͜ is͜ a͜ Sequoia?

Sequoias, or͜ redwood trees, grow͜ in the͜ western͜ United

States, mostly͜ in California͜ and Oregon. Sequoias͜ are some͜ of
the͜ oldest living things͜ on͜ earth. They͜ are͜ also͜ among the͜
biggest. They͜ often grow͜ more than 30͜ meters high.

To͜ tell the͜ age͜ of͜ a͜ tree, it͜ is necessary͜ to͜ cut͜ it down. The͜
trunk͜ of the͜ tree has rings. There͜ is͜ a͜ ring for͜ each͜ year͜ of life͜
of the͜ tree. By͜ counting the͜ rings people can learn the͜ age͜ of͜
a͜ tree. One sequoia had 3000 rings! Some sequoias͜ are͜ even͜
older.

Sequoias͜ are͜ ever-green trees, and their bark͜ is very͜ tough. It͜
is͜ about 15 centimeters thick, and͜ it͜ is͜ almost fireproof. The͜
fireproof bark has helped sequoias live through many͜ forest
fires.