Home > Facts > National Parks Facts > Redwood National Park Facts

Redwood National Park Facts

Redwood National Park Facts
Redwood National Park is an 112,618 acre park in Humboldt County, and Del Norte County, California. It is home to the tallest trees in the world, called coast redwoods. Redwood National Park was established in 1968, at a time when redwood population had decreased by 90%. It was added to the list of three other parks that had been created to save the redwood tree population including Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwood parks. Together the four parks make up Redwood National and State Parks, which was established in 1994 to help combine efforts to save the redwood forests. 96% of old redwood growth has been logged.
Interesting Redwood National Park Facts:
In 1850 there were over 2 million acres of old growth redwood forest in California. Logging nearly wiped out the redwoods by 1968 when Redwood National Park was established.
Redwood National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
Redwood National Park was added to California Coast Ranges International Biosphere Reserve in 1983.
While come Native American groups continue to live within Redwood National Park's boundaries, they lived in the area for several thousand years prior to European settlement in the region, which resulted I logging and mass destruction of the environment.
The Boone and Crockett Club worked hard in the early 20th century to help preserve the redwood forests. The club founded the Save the Redwoods League which bought land to include in conservation efforts.
The damage done to the ecosystems of the redwood forests means that it will be many years before they can return to their former condition, considering that the trees can live up to 2000 years and grow to over 300 feet in height.
Redwood National Park has 37 miles of coastline on the Pacific Ocean.
Approximately half of the remaining redwood old growth trees are located in the Redwood National and State Parks system.
Within Redwood National Park live a variety of species of rare animals and birds, some of which are on endangered species lists.
Threatened and endangered species found in Redwood National Park include Chinook salmon, Steller's sea lion, northern spotted owl, tidewater goby, and the bald eagle.
Animals that can be found in Redwood National Park include cougars, black bears, beavers, bobcats, coyotes, elks, black-tailed deer, river otters, California sea lions, harbour seals, and Roosevelt elk.
Big brown bats, red squirrels, northern flying squirrels, pelicans, sandpipers, cormorants, great blue herons, osprey, and red-shouldered hawks are found within Redwood National Park.
Types of amphibians found in Redwood National Park include rough-skinned newts, northern red-legged frogs, giant salamanders, and the northwestern ringneck snakes.
Thirty invasive species have been identified in Redwood National Park including poison hemlock and knapweed.
Prescribed fires are sometimes used to manage the ecosystem in Redwood National Park, which can help to remove exotic and invasive species, as well as eliminate the dead trees and provide more fertile soil for the healthier trees to survive.
There are approximately 200 miles of trails for hikers and bikers to explore Redwood National Park.


Related Links:
Facts
National Parks Facts
Animals Facts
Oak tree Facts