This photograph give absolutely no sense of how massive this tree is, nor does the simple fact that it's the largest living thing on earth. You have to see it for yourself, but here are its statistics:
Estimated age: 2300-2700 years
Height Above Base: 275 ft
Maximum Diameter at Base: 36.5 ft
Height of First Large Branch: 130 ft
Diameter of Largest Branch: 6.5 ft
Volume of Trunk: 52,500 cubic feet
To get to the General Sherman Tree, you'll have to hike from the parking lot, along a 0.4-mile path that descends 212 feet - which of course means you'll have to hike back up that far on the way out. If you're not up to all that, just off the main highway there's a drop off point and parking for vehicles with handicapped parking permits, which is much closer to the big tree.
