Sequoia & Kings Canyon

National Parks

By: Josiah Barker

    These parks are
located to the East of
the San Joaquin
Valley.  Including
cities like Fresno,
Reedley, and Sanger.
They are part of the
Great Western
Divide, also know as
the Sierra Nevadas.
Yosemite and Tahoe
are located to the
North of these parks.
 
 Sequoia National Park was
established on September
25, 1890. This included the
area that is now know as
Kings Canyon National
Park. 

Together Sequoia and Kings

Canyon parks total over 863,700
acres. Although these parks
have separate names, they are
managed as one park. Soon after the
Civil War numerous people began
to come and visit the Sequoia
National Park. 
 Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks are
full of many different locations for
visitors to enjoy the beauty of creation.
Some of these sites include caves and
caverns, giant sequoia trees, vast
meadows, steep canyons, tall
mountains (including Mt. Whitney)
and many rivers and lakes. 
 There are over 240 known caves in  the parks, and that number
grows each year with news caves being discovered. The second
largest cave, at 3.4 miles,  is Crystal Cave. This cave is made up
of mostly marble rock. It was discovered on April 18, 1918. The
cave remains at a constant temperature of 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
To maintain the beauty of the cave visitors are only allowed in
with a trained tour guide. If not, the beauty of the cave will
vanish because the oils from human hands will harm the growth
of the rocks within the cave.  
 Mt Whitney is the largest mountain within the
contiguous United States. The elevation of Mt. Whitney is
14,505ft. Mt Whitney is made out of granite. Mt Whitney
was named in 1864 after Josiah Whitney. He was the State
Geologist of California. 
Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are home to the giant
Sequoia trees. These trees are some of the largest trees in the
world. Including, the General Sherman tree the biggest tree on
earth measuring at 275 ft tall. This is the same size as an average
26 story building. These trees are between 1800 and 2700 years
old. Another giant sequoia named the General Grant tree is also
known as our Nations Christmas tree. On April 28, 1926
President Coolidge designated General Grant as the Nations
Christmas Tree. Since then every December there is a ceremony
at the base of the General Grant. In 2004 and 2009 my Grandpa
was asked to be the minister for the ceremony. During the
ceremony a wreath is laid at the base of the tree to
recognize soldiers who have given their lives for our country. 
 Ranger laying
down the wreath
at the Christmas
General ceremony. 
Sherman Tree
General Grant
Tree
 Sequoia Wildlife

Black Bear
Bobcat
Coyote

Snake
Red Tail Hawk Mule Deer
In July 2006 we went to Kings
Canyon National Park. In the
picture above we are standing in
front of a fallen tree with massive
roots. To the right, we are
standing at the base of a giant
sequoia. 
My family and I had a
picnic and enjoyed
climbing the nearby
trees. Unfortunately,
these trees easily give
you splinters, I know
this from experience.
While we were there, I
remember it being nice
and cool there. 
 At the park, the birds
aren't your usual city
birds.  These  
birds have foe-hawks and
everything.

It's awesome up
there!!!
I chose this topic because I've
been to Sequoia & Kings
Canyon Parks  so many times,
and I wanted to stretch my
knowledge about it.