Giant Thuja - Sintra, Portugal
Posted by: 
RuiJSDuarte
N 38° 47.161 W 009° 23.595
29S E 465845 N 4293104
This Giant Thuja (Western Cedar) is a magnificent example dating back to the nineteen century, of the Thuja Plicata from the Western North America Region.
Waymark Code: WMDBCG
Location: Lisboa, Portugal
Date Posted: 12/19/2011
Views: 8
It was brought to Sintra along with plants from all over the world by D. Fernando II when he decided to recreate the Pena Park, starting in 1839, which is considered World Heritage by UNESCO since 1995.
The Thuja Plicata on the Pena Park is about 35 meters high and has a diameter of 1.75 meters. Other Thujas have reached a height of 65 meters, a diameter of 3-4 meters.
Western Redcedar has an extensive history of use by the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Coast, from Oregon(Canada) to southeast Alaska(USA). Some northwest coast tribes refer to themselves as "people of the redcedar" because of their extensive dependence on the tree for basic materials. The wood has been used for constructing housing, totem poles, and crafted into many objects, including masks, utensils, boxes, boards, instruments, canoes, vessels, and ceremonial objects. Roots and bark were used for baskets, ropes, clothing, blankets and rings. In our days its light weight, strength and dark warm sound make it a popular choice for guitar soundboards.
Information taken from the Cache´s page (http://coord.info/GC2KQDH) and the same can be read in the plaques around the Tree.
Genus/Species: Giant Thuja
Height: 115
Girth: 10
Method of obtaining height: Reliable source
Method of obtaining girth: Reliable source
Location type: Park
Age: 170
Historical significance:
Brought by D. Fernando II when he decided to recreate the Pena Park
Website reference: [Web Link]
Planter: Not listed
Parking coordinates: Not Listed
Walk time: Not Listed
Photograpy coordinates: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
A closeup picture of your GPS receiver in your hand, with the tree in the background, is required. If the tree is on private property, this closeup photograph with the tree in the background may be taken from the nearest public vantage point without actually going to the tree.
The required photograph does not need to show the entire tree, but the individual tree must be recognizable.