The Wawona Tree

Giant sequoia trees are easily the largest living things on the planet in terms of volume. They're also one of the tallest, with senior individuals of the species reaching heights of over 270 feet. The species, also known as redwoods, is only found on the slopes of California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, making it an excellent getaway spot for hikers and nature enthusiasts from all over the country.

The 2,100-year-old Wawona Tree was perhaps the most famous huge sequoia, thanks to a massive tunnel constructed beneath it to lure tourists in 1881. While it looked fantastic and is still featured in many renowned travel images from the time, trees don't do well with a gaping hole in their trunk. This, combined with other causes like as heavy snow and thin soil, weakened it over time until it ultimately fell in the winter of 1968-69. It was one of the oldest living organisms ever recorded, dating back over 2,100 years.

Opend: 1881

Location: the slopes of California's Sierra Nevada mountain