Hawaii: Volanic Rock

The island of Hawaii has the largest volcano on earth, Mauna Loa which accounts for its growing size. Before the Sierra Nevada’s were uplifted from earthquakes and shaped by glaciers there was metamorphic rock that sat at the surface. The park contains many different kinds of volcanic rock, quartz, and marble which are rocks that are created by metamorphic rocks. These rocks help create many of the parks beautiful rock formations and underground caves. If the Sierra Nevada’s had not gone through different periods of freezing cold glaciers and hot volcanic rock then the Sierra Nevada Mountains might have never had the beautiful topography it has today.

Information from: http://www.sequoia.national-park.com/info.htm

North Pacific Coast Isolation

 The North Pacific Coast which goes from the Northern tip of California up through Canada and Alaska has many large mountain areas covered in shrubs and trees. This region makes up about 50% of the lumber that the United States uses for building construction. The Douglas fir found in this area is most often used to build strong houses or for plywood. Sequoia’s upper region is also covered in large amounts of Douglas Fir’s along with Redwoods, and Sequoia trees. These trees are not like the maple trees or plan trees that are seen in megalopolis or other high populated areas. These trees are some of the tallest in the world with thick bark that can hold even the strongest lighting strike or fire. In these areas of lush trees there are often lower populations, they are often isolated. Alaska is greatly isolated from the rest of the United States much like the Sierra Nevada’s high mountain ranges are isolated from most of California’s over populated areas. Much like Sequoia’s most of Alaska if still protected by its government and environmentalists so that it cannot be destroyed by people.    

Information from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_native_plants#Sequoias_and_redwoods

CALI.I.I.fornia: Home Sweet Home!

     California is one of the largest states in the United States, but it is by far the most popular one. From its beautiful ocean coasts, flat central valley, to its scenic mountains there is so much that the state has to offer. It has plenty of water supply from its many irrigation systems that is provided from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and many different types of agriculture that provides its state and many of states with fruits, vegetables, poultry, and dairy. Not only does California provide a great deal of natural sources it is well known as the United States largest tourist attraction compared to any other state. Many other countries and even other states in the United States see California as the perfect, "American Dream." Lots of money, mansions, expensive cars, corporate jobs, and the ability to do whatever they want. Often television shows that have any of these qualities in them people assume that it is taking place in California.

     One not so positive aspect of California is its large devastating earthquakes. There are more earthquakes in this state then in any other part of the United States. Although earthquakes and destroy homes and leave cities with a lot of damage, California would not have its diverse topography it was not for the fault line plates bending and breaking to create its diverse mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada’s. The Sierra Nevada's where the Sequoias are located are one of the largest sources of water for the state and also one of the state’s largest tourist attractions, especially known for its large redwood trees that cannot be found anywhere else but in the Western United States.

Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwood_National_and_State_Parks

Southwest Border Indians and Invaders

The Southwest boarder along California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas where taken over by European Anglo Americans began taking over these areas in the 1700’s. Many Native American’s lived in these areas years and years before them and were not happy about their land being taken over. These natives stayed in areas along the United States-Mexican border to stay away from these European invaders. Indian reservations were created in these areas so that the tribes could have places to live without being killed or dying from diseases that the Europeans brought. The Spanish came and took over these Native American areas just like they did in the Sierra Nevada’s. They too came to look for rich prosperous land and gold, but were not able to find either of these things. Over time the Spaniards along with the European Anglo American’s pushed the Native American’s aside and onto reservations. This was different then the Sequoia’s where the Spaniards killed the locals and spread their diseases to the locals which caused many tribes to go extinct.  

Picture from: http://blog.wfuv.org/?p=2404

The Empty Interior

     The Empty Interior of the United States has many similar attributes of the Sierra Nevada’s, where Sequoia is located. This area which runs from Canada all the way to Mexico is where the famous Rocky Mountain range is located. The Rocky Mountain National Park is also one of the United States beautiful tourist attractions. Many people come to see the talk jagged mountains and the wild animals that are often seen. Like the Sequoia’s where bears, dear, marmots, and many other species are located tourist love to see wildlife. These National Parks are both controlled by local governments so that they cannot be built on and destroyed by manufacturing plants and housing. These parks are protected so that these beautiful wonders can always be enjoyed, but above all these areas have some of the largest diversity of wildlife in the country.

     The Rocky Mountains have many drastic elevations from plunging slopes to sharp summits many in which are covered in Pleistocene ice and snow. The Sierra Nevada’s similar mountain areas had glaciers develop during cold and wet weather periods. Today it does not have nearly the amount of glaciers that it use to, but small amounts of them are still there. Much of the reason they are gone is due to global warming, which leaves them as the southernmost glaciers in North America. Over time these glaciers formed the parks valleys, waterfalls, peaks, and glacial canyons.

Information from: http://www.sequoia.national-park.com/info.htm

Great Plains and Prairies

The Great Plains of Central Northern California are known for their tall dry grasses filled with farms of mostly wheat, and the extremely high winds that sweep through the prairies. If it was not for the large amounts of irrigated water in this area then it would probably not be able to prosper as it has. Irrigation systems are artificial applications of land that provide water through canals or ditches usually to help produce agriculture. The lands that surround Sequoia National Park in California’s Central Valley has many irrigation canals that provides its central valley with water. About one-sixth of the United States irrigation takes place in this region which accounts for about 10% of the countries agriculture. The irrigation in this area comes from surface water diversions and groundwater that is pumped from wells. The Delta is interconnected with many canals, streambeds, and marsh lands to provide the Central Valley with the ability to produce such a large amount of agriculture. Sequoia had three major rivers that run through its park. There is the Kings, Kaweah, and Kern Rivers. These rivers provide the irrigation for many of its surrounding countries such as Fresno and Kern. If it was not for Sequoia’s ability to provide large amounts of water then the Central Valley might not be so prosperous.  

This picture although only labels Kings River shows many of California's water supplies. If you notice a majority come from the Eastern Central Valley. Meaning that it is coming from the Sierra Nevadas where Sequoia is located.

Information from: http://www.sequoia.national-park.com/info.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Valley_(California)

The Agricultural Core

In the mountains of Sequoia National Park there is hardly any to no agriculture. The areas up at the top are thick with trees and do not have the ability to produce different kinds of crops. They also do not have the ability to have farms because bringing large amounts of animals up to the area is too hard and too much money. The surrounding areas around the park however, have many different kinds of agriculture and farming that provide the uppers Sequoia's with their grocery store products. Sequoia is located in Central Valley on the East side of California. On the West side of the park is California's agricultural flatlands which provide many of the states fruits, vegetables, and meats. Kern county starts at the Southern tip of the park where the Kern River feeds out of Lake Isabella. The agriculture that it provides makes it California's third grossing county in the state of California. It provides on average, over 4 million dollars per year for the state with its products ranging from dairy, citrus, grapes, and carrots. Farther North of Kern county and still paralleling Sequoia's are the counties of San Joaquin and Kings which gross about 1 to 2 million annually for the state of California. They both provide a variety of poultries, dairy, and fruits and vegetables.

Information provided by: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/files/AgHighlightsBrochure10.pdf

The Subtropical Environment

     The Sequoia's do not have much in common with the South's subtropical weather. They have hot dry summers and freezing winters, unlike the south with its hot humid summers and mild winters. The South is well known for its natural disasters. Hurricanes have swept through much of the Southern Coastlines. Many of us remember Hurricane Katrina and what it did to New Orleans. Sequoia has common natural disasters of its own, however they are the opposite of water, hot flaming fire.

     There are three types of fires that occur most commonly in these upper mountain areas: natural causes, human causes, and controlled fires. Natural causes are ones that start by lightening striking or by temperatures getting so hot that it causes smoldering in dry areas which leads to a fire. Controlled fires are ones that firefighters start and stop in certain areas to prevent mass amounts of land catching fire and not being able to stop them. They also use controlled fired to help habitats create rebirth from the high nutrients in ash. The most dangerous is human fires. People will throw cigarettes, matches, etc onto the group which will then cause brush to catch quickly. Sometimes if the fires are planned they will start them in multiple areas which will then create a ring of fire. When this happens it is highly hazardous and could put many people in danger because it might leave people unprepared in the local areas. Firefighters can often predict natural caused fires before they happen due to the weather conditions, but human started fires can come at the most random of times.  The largest fire to burn in the park was in 2005 which spread over 14,087 acres of the park. 
Picture and Information from: www.nps.gov/seki/naturescience/fire.htm