The General Sherman Tree, located in Sequoia National Park, is special because it is the largest living single-stem tree on Earth by volume. While it is not the tallest (that's Hyperion, a redwood) nor the oldest (that's a bristlecone pine), its sheer mass is unparalleled. It stands about 275 feet tall and has a diameter of 25 feet at the base, with an estimated trunk volume of over 52,500 cubic feet. To put its size in perspective, its largest branch is almost 7 feet in diameter—thicker than most trees found east of the Mississippi River. The tree is estimated to be between 2,200 and 2,700 years old, meaning it was already a massive giant during the height of the Roman Empire. Every year, General Sherman adds enough new wood to create a whole new 60-foot-tall tree. It is a biological marvel that has survived countless wildfires and storms, and in 2021, it made global headlines when firefighters wrapped its base in fire-resistant foil to save it from the KNP Complex Fire, ensuring this ancient giant continues to grow for centuries to come.