
Cottonwood and Balsam Poplar | Geophysical Institute
Oct 30, 2025 · The Klukwan giant holds the national record for black cottonwood diameter. Its nearest rival, a tree near Salem, Oregon, does hold the national height record. The Klukwan …
Northern Tree Habitats - Geophysical Institute
Oct 30, 2025 · Interior Alaskan forests have only six native tree species: white spruce, black spruce, quaking aspen, balsam poplar, larch (tamarack) and paper birch. Northern Canadian …
The largest black spruce in Alaska | Geophysical Institute
Aug 16, 2010 · The tree leans uphill, and its trunk is 45 inches around. When I hugged it, I could barely clasp my hands together. The largest black spruce in Alaska is a lucky tree, because its …
More on Why Tree Trunks Spiral | Geophysical Institute
Oct 30, 2025 · I eventually found a tree with a spiral lightning mark and it followed the spiral grain exactly. One tree, of course, proves nothing. "But why should the tree spiral? More speculation …
The majesty and mystery of Alaska yellow cedar | Geophysical …
Jul 23, 2021 · A tree near one of our campsites had a crack at its base through which we could pass the folded saw. Yet the tree was still alive, with just one rope of cambium — the outer …
Witches' Broom | Geophysical Institute
Oct 30, 2025 · Witches' broom on spruce trees is caused by a rust disease (a kind of fungus disease). The rust lives on the spruce tree throughout the year. Each spring, small yellow …
Tree Rings and History | Geophysical Institute
Oct 30, 2025 · A tree's age can be easily determined by counting its growth rings, as any Boy or Girl Scout knows. Annually, the tree adds new layers of wood which thicken during the …
Feltleaf willows: Alaska’s most abundant tree | Geophysical Institute
May 25, 2023 · The most plentiful moose food in the state — and probably Alaska’s most numerous tree — is the feltleaf willow, which was once called the Alaska willow. As its name …
Burls and Human Cancer | Geophysical Institute
Oct 30, 2025 · Photograph of a section cut from a tree with 5 burls that simultaneously grew at the same level on the tree. Annual growth rings can be followed around the tree trunk at center …
The Life of A White Spruce In The Subarctic | Geophysical Institute
Oct 23, 2025 · This majestic tree is one of the most commercially important species in the Interior, it is valued for the houselogs, firewood, and other products that are derived from it. In fact, it …