What is special about Petrified Forest National Park Arizona?

Petrified Forest National Park is known for its fossils, especially of fallen trees that lived in the Late Triassic Epoch of the Mesozoic era, about 225-207 million years ago.

What is the importance of the Petrified Forest?

The purpose of Petrified forest NatioNal Park is to preserve and protect globally significant fossils, including petrified wood, nationally significant prehistoric and historic resources, as well as scenic values, in order to foster scientific research, public understanding, and enjoyment.

What is the history of the Petrified Forest in Arizona?

The history of Petrified Forest National park began with the documentation of fossil wood in the 1850s (NPS, 2007b). As the region developed, pioneers, ranchers, sightseers, and eventually commercial ventures came to collect fossils wood. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt created Petrified Forest National Monument.

What can you see at Petrified Forest National Park?

7 Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park

• Backpack and Camp in the Painted Desert.
• See the Old Studebaker on Old Route 66.
• Visit Puerco Pueblo.
• See Native American Petroglyphs.
• Drive Through the Teepees.
• Explore the Blue Mesa.
• Hike the Crystal Forest, Long Logs and Giant Logs Trails.

How Petrified Forest was formed?

Much of the Petrified Forest formed from tall trees called conifers. They grew over 200 million years ago near waterways. During floods, water forced the trees to be pulled up from the ground. Over time, the wood from the trees became petrified.

How old is the National Petrified Forest?

Established: December 9, 1962 The current 346 square miles of Petrified Forest open a window on an environment more than 200 million years old, one radically different from today’s grassland.

Why is it called the Petrified Forest?

“Petrified Forest” gets its name from the trees that have, over millions of years, turned to stone. That natural process is called fossilization. Much of the Petrified Forest formed from tall trees called conifers. They grew over 200 million years ago near waterways.

How old is the Petrified Forest?

Why is it called Petrified Forest?

How big is the Petrified Forest?

229.6 mi²Petrified Forest National Park / Area

How old is the Petrified Forest in Arizona?

How was Petrified Forest made?

What is the Petrified Forest made of?

quartz
Petrified wood found in the park and the surrounding region is made up of almost solid quartz. Each piece is like a giant crystal, often sparkling in the sunlight as if covered by glitter. The rainbow of colors is produced by impurities in the quartz, such as iron, carbon, and manganese.