Our planet hosts a vast diversity of life, and some organisms reach immense heights. This prompts questions about the tallest life forms on Earth.
The Tallest Tree
The current record-holder for the tallest known living organism is a Coast Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, named Hyperion. This tree stands at 116.07 meters (380.8 feet) tall, a measurement last verified in 2019. Hyperion was discovered on August 25, 2006, by naturalists Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor in a remote area of Redwood National Park in California.
Its height was confirmed by ecologist Stephen Sillett, using a laser range finder and a fiberglass tape measure. The tree’s location within Redwood National Park is kept secret to protect its habitat from human impact, with public access closed since July 2022 due to degradation. This coast redwood is estimated to be between 600 and 800 years old.
How Trees Reach Extreme Heights
Trees achieve impressive vertical growth through biological mechanisms, primarily involving water transport and structural integrity. Water movement from the roots to the highest leaves is largely explained by the cohesion-tension theory. This theory describes how water molecules, due to their cohesive properties, form a continuous column within the tree’s xylem vessels.
Transpiration, the evaporation of water from leaves, creates a negative pressure that pulls this continuous water column upwards. Adhesion, the attraction between water molecules and the xylem walls, further supports this upward movement, preventing the column from breaking. Beyond water transport, the robust composition of wood and increasing trunk diameter provide the necessary structural support to withstand gravity and environmental forces.
Ecological Significance and Protection
These towering trees and the ancient forests they inhabit hold ecological importance. They serve as carbon sinks, absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps mitigate climate change. Redwood forests also play a role in water filtration, helping to clean and sustain water supplies.
These forests provide unique habitats for a diverse range of species, including various vascular plants, lichens, fungi, and numerous vertebrates and invertebrates. Protecting these ancient giants and their ecosystems is an ongoing effort, facing challenges such as climate change, increased wildfire intensity, and human-induced habitat degradation. Conservation strategies involve preserving forest areas and addressing these threats to ensure their survival.
Other Notable Tall Organisms
While Coast Redwoods hold the record for individual height, other tree species also reach great heights. Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum), found in California, are known for their massive volume, with some specimens exceeding 90 meters (300 feet) in height. The Australian Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans), particularly the Centurion tree in Tasmania, stands as the world’s tallest known flowering plant, reaching about 100 meters (327.5 feet).
Other tall tree species include Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis), both capable of growing over 91 meters (300 feet). Beyond terrestrial plants, the ocean harbors its own vertical giants, such as the Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). This marine algae can grow up to 65 meters (215 feet) long, forming dense underwater forests that provide ecosystems in cool coastal waters.