SHANGRALA'S

AMAZING PETRIFIED FOREST!

      This is probably the most popular petrified park in the world. Thousands of logs litter a stretch of grassland at Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona. From far away, the logs might look ordinary. But they contain a surprise. The shiny, multicolored insides of the stumps are made of rock, not wood! This transformation was the result of a natural process that took place about 225 million years ago.
      Arizona designated petrified wood as its official state fossil in 1988. Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona protects one of the largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood in the world. Made up of almost solid quartz, each piece of petrified wood is like a giant crystal, often sparkling in the sunlight with a rainbow of colors.
      Stone stumps aren't the only attraction at Petrified Forest National Park. Walking along the park's trails, visitors can see hills made of bluish clay and the remains of a dwelling built over 600 years ago by the Puebloan peoples. Hikers might also come across tiger salamanders, prairie dogs, ornate box turtles, and other animals that inhabit the park.

  
> Here's Great Photos Of The Park. Enjoy! :)
Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
      Petrified Forest National Park is a world-class tourist site in the area, straddling Interstate 10 about 70 or 80 miles east of Meteor Crater. Each year, about 800,000 people visit to sightsee, hike, and backpack.

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
      The park covers 146 square miles. It's dry and often windy, but not as hot as desert areas at lower altitudes, and it's mostly covered in grass.

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
      At times volcanic ash was deposited on fallen trees in the forest here, and silica in the ash was dissolved by water and entered the trees, fossilizing them. The silica in the logs crystallized into quartz, but often iron oxide and other minerals were mixed in, producing extraordinarily beautiful kaleidoscopic patterns and colors.

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
      Encompassing 170 square miles, the park extends into the Painted Desert in the north.

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
      The Petrified Forest in Arizona has been a national monument since 1906 but didn't become a national park until 1962.

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
      The Petrified Forest in Arizona might be most recognizable by its petrified, fallen trees, but the park is actually teeming with life! Animals such as coyotes, pronghorns, deer mice and bobcats live here, along with snakes, lizards, amphibians and over 200 species of birds. In addition, you can find over 400 species of plants.
Photo by Flickr User Sonora Dick

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
      Because of tectonic forces about 60 million years ago, the park was subjected to increased erosion which has unearthed the beautiful layers we are able to see today.

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
      In addition to petrified logs, they've discovered a range of fossils dating back to the Late Triassic Period. From ferns and Gingkoes to phytosaurs and dinosaurs, paleontologists are constantly studying this fossil-rich area.



Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest

      The ancient inhabitants here were quite the builders. They left behind pit houses and also above-ground pueblos. All in all, after being forced to abandon their communities due to climate change, the inhabitants left behind over 600 archeological sites for paleontologists to explore.

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest

      The Chinle is up to 800 feet thick in the Petrified Forest. That means 800 feet of colorful sedimentary rocks like sandstone, mudstone, siltstone, claystone, and limestone. Abundant iron and manganese compounds are what make these rocks so vivid. Wind and water combine to erode the Chinle and create the unique, ever-changing badlands that people flock from far and wide to see.

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
      Petroglyphs - images, symbols, or designs - have been left behind by previous settlers and are visible here. You can see them in various locations, scratched or carved into rock surfaces. Paleontologists believe these markings are between 650 and 2,000 years old.
Photo by Flickr User Andrew Kearns

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
      When their trails are named things like "Painted Desert Rim," "Blue Mesa," or "Crystal Forest," you know you're in for a scenic stroll. The park invites hikers, backpackers, and pets (on leashes!) to wander along the trails and take in the natural beauty. Horseback riding and some bicycling are allowed, and if you take the time to obtain a free permit, you can even stay overnight.
Photo by Flickr User I Love Hiking

Shangrala's Amazing Petrified Forest
     
The Visitors Center shows an educational video every 1/2 hour. Titled "Timeless Impressions," it's designed to share some awe-inspiring facts about the Petrified Forest with its visitors. Other exciting opportunities include fossil exhibits and an interactive Triassic virtual tour. In the visitor center, you'll also find a variety of programs about the park hosted by park rangers who are more than willing to share their knowledge of the area. Photo by Flickr User Tom Haymes



Share This Amazing Beauty

With All Your Adventurist Friends! :)



submit to reddit

Share


SEE ALSO: Nevada's Fly Geyser!


http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/stoneforest.html



^BACK To TOP^



      For those of you who Want More FUN - Visit The Shangy Fun List! Variety is the
spice of life! The Shangy Fun List is an ezine packed full of Poems, Inspirational and
Heart Warming Stories. Jokes from G to slightly R, and Anything else that just
might make you SMILE! Join In The Free FUN!! ... :)

Yes! Click Here To GO TO THE ARCHIVES!-



Like This Page?



If you are looking for more, here are some good places to start:
More Animation!
Angel Falls!-
Wood Chip Art!-
Amazing Photos 6!-
Beautiful Scotland!-
Most Unique Trees!-
Shilin Stone Forest!-
Amazing Sinkholes!-
Wieliczka Salt Mine!-
Cano Cristales River!-
American Wilderness!-
Amazing Light Pillars!-
Beautiful Rare Flowers!-
Amazing Bonsai Forests!-
Mysterious Black Forest!-
Beautiful Grand Canyon!-
Amazing Striped Icebergs!-
Magnificent President Tree!-
Grand Teton National Park!-
Alien-Looking Places On Earth!-
World's Most Spectacular Places!-
A-Z Animated Picture Images!-
FUN URLS


BACK To SHANGRALA -To SHANGRALA-

SPECIAL THANKS Goes To TAMMY BIGHAM And GENIANN For Sharing This With Us.



Copyright © 1996 Netscape Communications Corporation. Mozilla is
a trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation.
Note: This is an Unofficial God, Jesus Christ, Family, & Cartoon Fan Site.
© All graphics representing Disney characters are copyrighted by Disney.
Likewise all other graphics & music Copyright © by their own Individual Artists.
I do not own any graphics on this site. If you do, please notify me and I'll give
you proper credit, a link, or remove it immediately according to your wishes.
~*~ Copyright © 1997-2021 Elrhea M. Bigham ~*~