A feat for nature: the story of an eco-activist who lived atop a giant sequoia for 738 days (3 photos)

The internet has recalled the inspiring story of American environmental activist Julia "Butterfly" Hill, who led one of the most protracted and iconic nonviolent protests in defense of the environment. In December 1997, the 23-year-old climbed to the top of an ancient California redwood tree, approximately 1,500 years old, affectionately nicknamed "Moon." Julia constructed a tiny wooden platform under a tent 55 meters high in the tree's canopy and spent 738 consecutive days there, refusing to descend. In this radical move, she attempted to protect the century-old tree and the surrounding ancient forest from the inevitable profits of a logging company. During her two years of forced confinement at bird's eye height, Hill endured extreme trials from the elements, including ice storms, hurricane-force winds, and intense pressure from commercial companies. She cooked on a camp stove, collected rainwater for washing, and gave interviews to international journalists via a solar-powered cell phone. In December 1999, the selfless protest ended in complete victory: the loggers yielded to public pressure and signed a formal agreement to preserve the redwoods and create a safe buffer zone around them.