At the feet of the giants:

General Sherman: The Giant Sequoia 

The other day I visited Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. I felt humbled standing at the feet of great generals of the woods: General Sherman and General Grant. These are the two largest trees (by Trunk volume) in the world. They are close to 2000 yrs. old. They have seen all the struggles and challenges of a budding human civilization. We have changed a lot in the past 2000 years, the art, culture, technologies… everything has changed beyond belief in the last 2000 years. We have changed so much in the last 30 years for heavens sake!

These giants were there to witness the struggles, successes and failures of our civilization. The green revolution, industrial revolution, gold rush, migrations, wars, invasions, exodus, Shakespeare, Galileo, Newton, Faraday, Einstein, Gandhi and (me)J.    How did they survive so long?

That raises another interesting question. Why do plants live longer than animals? Both animals and plants can succumb to diseases, environmental factors, and climate. Both share significant genetic make up. But what make some plants to outlive many of their animal’s counterparts. It should be in the DNA, or is it the way cells die and get replaced? Is it some sort of unique rejuvenation mechanisms of the plants?

One thing is for sure; if we animals survive such a long time and reproduce at the current rate this planet will not be sufficient to sustain us. So may be it is an evolutionary selection. But whatever it is, its worth knowing.