Petrified Forest National Park

Another wonderful national park; I learn some, take a bunch of pictures and hope that it never changes except by forces of nature. Scientists hypothesize that in some sort of weird ancient weather phenomena, a veritable forest was washed into a marsh, covered with silt then volcanic ash and presto, in millions of years we have petrified wood, lots of it. Okay, I minimize the science but I am still amazed at what has been created. And there is soooo much of it – too bad the affect of visitors vandalism is so obvious. Sigh! When will we (the collective we) learn.  As are many National Parks, this supports more than one national treasure. Included in the boundaries are part of the Painted Desert, some petroglyphs and a pueblo.

Petrified logs

Part of the forest

Found in the Crystal Forest

More from the Crystal Forest

Looks just like wood doesn't it

Part of Painted Desert; painted refering to the vivid colors

Puerco Pueblo partly restored

Petroglyphs near Puerco Pueblo