The photographer of today's image is Ken McCown of California (aka ken mccown@flickr | original image | large image on black background | BPotD Flickr Group Pool). Thank you, Ken!

Individual trees of giant sequoias rank as the largest trees in the world by volume. The species is endemic to California, where it is found in isolated groves and has a rather narrow distribution in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Ken took this photograph in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, site of the Discovery Tree. This tree was one of the first of the sequoias to ever be seen by people of European descent – and shortly thereafter cut down.

The Gymnosperm Database has much more on Sequoiadendron giganteum, including an entertaining tale about big trees (and the people who search for them). Also, Wikipedia has an excellent entry on giant sequoia, including this quote from John Muir: “Do behold the King Sequoia! Behold! Behold! seems all I can say. Some time ago I left all for Sequoia and have been and am at his feet, fasting and praying for light, for is he not the greatest light in the woods, in the world? Where are such columns of sunshine, tangible, accessible, terrestrialized?”