Stanley Park's "National Geographic" Tree Felled by Winds and Rain

October 12, 2007 (No. 53) - One of Stanley Park's most famous landmarks, the "National Geographic" tree located on Third Beach Trail near the Hollow Tree, fell down last weekend. Staff report that likely the heavy rains on Sunday morning weakened the root mass, and the severe easterly winds that followed later in the day were the cause of the demise of the ancient Western Red Cedar.

The tree is estimated to be between 800 and 1,000 years old. It was 14 meters (45 feet) in circumference and, at the time it fell, 40 meters (130 feet) in height. Over the years it had been struck by lightning and ravaged by many storms. In the mid 1990s an enormous limb of the tree came down. Although the tree had been in decline for many years, apparently it had not sustained any noticeable damage in the big wind storm that hit the park last December.

When the tree fell on Sunday, it split in half, falling across Third Beach Trail. The tree will be left where it fell and the trail around it adjusted to allow safe public access.

The Western Red Cedar gained widespread recognition when it was featured in the October 1978 edition of the National Geographic magazine.

- 30 -

For more information contact Carol DeFina, Communications Coordinator, at 604-257-8440.
www.vancouverparks.ca

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 200 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.