Petrified Forest National Park
Petrifaid Forest is equipped for a park area in the US state of Arizona between Navajo and Holbrook. All elements of this park are – petrified trees consisting of semiprecious stones. In the 20th century, the park was awarded the title of national. Petrifaid Forest was named thanks to the fossils of the trees.
The process of delivery has been going on for millions of years. At the end of the trias period, coniferous giants were still alive, among them dinosaurs were walking. Their destructive feature was the eruption of volcanoes together with stormy water flows. Falling trunks carried away streams of water, accumulating them in the lowlands of the swamp. The conversion of trees was in the formation of the species of Chinle, consisting of various elements, including sandstone and limestone. Under the influence of natural elements, their transformation into bedding occurs. Trees were covered with sludge, sand and volcanic ash. Covered with sedimentary rocks, it helped them maintain their appearance. Access to oxygen was blocked, not allowing wood to rot. The quartz, which is part of the ash, together with water, penetrating the wood, permeated it. He, repeating exactly the structure of tree cells, crystallized over time. Minerals dissolved in water gave the fossils an unusual different color. Yashma gives a red hue, purple comes from the amethyst, and the agate is the most unpredictable, all kinds of different colors are obtained from it.
Wood during the scale gradually replaced with silicon salts. They lay hiding in more and more balls of deposits. Forest giants have turned into precious layers consisting of agates, jasper, serdolic, onyx and amethyst. The thickness of the ball of rock transformations reaches 240 meters.
The total area of 380 square kilometers – is steppes and bedbangs of bright colors. The height of the Petrifaid Forest park averages 1.7 kilometers. The park space is divided into two zones – north and south. In the northern part, which borders the Color Desert, colorful bedballs are collected, which formed after the trias times. Most of this territory has been preserved intact, while remaining a shelter for many animals and birds.
Numerous petrified wood with several petroglyphs are provided on the south side.
Most fossils retained only common features, while losing cellular shape. Only a few of them managed to preserve cells filled with minerals, with the help of them they managed to study the microstructure of long-dead representatives of flora and fauna. In addition to trees, other plant species are presented, including ferns and sagovniki.
There are ongoing excavations and investigations in the Petrifaid Forest Park. Many fossils of vertebrates were discovered, including phytosaurs, Koskinokidons. Their skulls and bones were transferred to the Paleontological Museum.
During archaeological research, ancient hunting tools were found, including stone tips for spears. These findings give an idea that many years ago, hunters lived on the territory of Petrifaid Forest. Scientists studying ancient settlers found out that later residents were engaged in agriculture. They lived in large buildings called « Pueblo », consisting of about a hundred rooms. In the park you can count about a hundred poeblo.
From a long time, fossilized material was used in jewelry and crafts. Today, fossilized specimens are protected from potential collectors.
This is the largest open-air exhibition, which is visited by about 600 thousand tourists in a year. For their convenient movement, a transport connection is established, the only minus is the absence of an overnight stay. So it’s better to visit Petrifide Forest in the daytime.
