Redwood National and State Parks, United States of America

Abstract

Redwood National and State Parks, in northern California, USA, is a long, thin strip of coastal mountains and coastal plain bordering the Pacific Ocean. It is forested with groves of redwoods, the tallest living things on earth. The redwood is a surviving remnant of the group of trees that has existed for 160 million years, now confined to the wet regions of the west coast of North America. Effectively, Redwood National Park preserves the largest remaining contiguous ancient coast redwood forest in the world in its original forest and streamside settings. The marine and land life are remarkable, in particular the sea lions, the bald eagle, and the endangered California black pelican. The area of the parks and the adjacent offshore area are the most seismically active region in the USA, capable of producing magnitude 9 earthquakes.