The famous Californian Muir Woods have been found to be a little younger than initially thought, the tallest redwood tree here only counting the young age of 777 years old.

Before the new study conducted by the Humboldt State University revealed its results, it was believed that the Muir Woods are double the currently known age.

Either way, the Californian forest is a matter of wonder. The redwood tree that was looked at by the research team is the holder of the record in height, measuring 249 feet in total.

Its name is Tree 76 and it is historically dated back to the onset of the Inquisition at the start of the 13th century.

So north of San Francisco, there is a young giant of 777 years old that slightly fades in comparison with its relatives further north.

In the Crescent City area, another redwood tree celebrated its 2,520 anniversary. Sierra Nevada is home to the oldest sequoia, now found at the venerable age of 3,240 years old.

Considering the incredible biodiverse ecosystem of California, scientists set out to document everything there is to know about these century old trees.

The San Francisco foundation – Save the Redwood League, in collaboration with Humboldt State University are jointly documenting individual characteristics of the redwood trees. Their initiative is part of a statewide project.

Tree-ring patterns are analyzed in connection to the effects of climate change on the old-growth groves.

So far, taking into account the height and age and analyzing the tree-ring patterns, it was found that the wider the pattern the wetter the years where. Reversely, the smaller the patterns, the dryer the years of development.

A complex documenting effort is taking place in order to keep these wonders around for hopefully many more centuries to come.

The science director of Save the Redwoods League declared that chances are high that the newly revealed age of Tree 76 indicates that the redwood grove is overall younger than initially believed.

Possibly a fire or some natural disaster caused the grove to regenerate around the beginning of the 13th century.

Tree 76 is the tallest in the Muir Woods, and a record holder. Probably, a giant that still holds on to a number of secrets ready to be unraveled by the research team.

Image Source: photoburst.net