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Jerry Pillarelli | profile | all galleries >> Travel and Nature; Sites by State >> US Travel; by Trip, by State >> Arizona >> Petrified Forest National Park – Arizona >> 2013 Petrified Forest National Park – Arizona tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

2013 Petrified Forest National Park – Arizona

Images of Petrified Forest National Park – in northeastern Arizona, taken in December 2013.

Over 200 million years ago a vast floodplain with tall conifer trees lining the banks of its streams occupied the area that is now Petrified Forest National Park. As the climate changed the trees fell; mud, silt and volcanic ash buried the logs and slowed their decay by cutting off the oxygen. Next silica-laden water seeped through the logs replacing wood tissues with silica, petrifying the logs.

Today, as the soft sedimentary rock is worn away by wind and water, what remains of that ancient floodplain is seen throughout the park. Large areas of petrified wood, the vast and colorful badlands known as the Painted Desert and the remnants of 13,000 years of human occupation make up this fascinating area.
“Old Faithful”, the most massive log in the park, along the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
“Old Faithful”, the most massive log in the park, along the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 The remains of a petrified tree along the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
The remains of a petrified tree along the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 Petrified wood sits with the badlands along the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified wood sits with the badlands along the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 Colorful petrified logs along the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Colorful petrified logs along the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 View of a section of the badlands from the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
View of a section of the badlands from the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified wood along the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified wood along the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 A badlands mesa from the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
A badlands mesa from the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 Weather worn hills along the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Weather worn hills along the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 The cone-shaped formations known as The Tepees in Petrified Forest National Park
The cone-shaped formations known as The Tepees in Petrified Forest National Park		 The remnants of ancient trees along the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
The remnants of ancient trees along the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
A colorful petrified log in early morning sunlight along the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
A colorful petrified log in early morning sunlight along the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 The Flattops near Puerco Ridge in Petrified Forest National Park
The Flattops near Puerco Ridge in Petrified Forest National Park		 Large sections of a petrified log along the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Large sections of a petrified log along the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 Outcroppings of petrified wood along the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Outcroppings of petrified wood along the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 A small piece of petrified wood along the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
A small piece of petrified wood along the Crystal Forest Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
A rabbit among pieces of petrified wood in Petrified Forest National Park
A rabbit among pieces of petrified wood in Petrified Forest National Park		 The Agate Bridge, now supported by a man-made bridge, in Petrified Forest National Park
The Agate Bridge, now supported by a man-made bridge, in Petrified Forest National Park		 Uncovered by wind and rain, a petrified tree sits on a hilltop along the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Uncovered by wind and rain, a petrified tree sits on a hilltop along the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 One of the many pedestal logs crowns a hill along the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
One of the many pedestal logs crowns a hill along the Blue Mesa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park		 A coyote wanders across the roadway in Petrified Forest National Park
A coyote wanders across the roadway in Petrified Forest National Park
Ancient petroglyphs near the Puerco Pueblo ruins in Petrified Forest National Park
Ancient petroglyphs near the Puerco Pueblo ruins in Petrified Forest National Park		 Part of the 600 year old, 100 room Puerco Pueblo ruins in Petrified Forest National Park
Part of the 600 year old, 100 room Puerco Pueblo ruins in Petrified Forest National Park		 “Who let the Llamas out, who, who…” in Petrified Forest National Park
“Who let the Llamas out, who, who…” in Petrified Forest National Park		 Telephone poles along the path of old Route 66 in Petrified Forest National Park
Telephone poles along the path of old Route 66 in Petrified Forest National Park		 The shell of an old car sits as a monument along the path of old Route 66 in Petrified Forest National Park
The shell of an old car sits as a monument along the path of old Route 66 in Petrified Forest National Park
View of the Painted Desert from Pintado Point in Petrified Forest National Park
View of the Painted Desert from Pintado Point in Petrified Forest National Park		 The Painted Desert from Chinde Point in Petrified Forest National Park
The Painted Desert from Chinde Point in Petrified Forest National Park		 The renovated Painted Desert Inn at Kachina Point in Petrified Forest National Park
The renovated Painted Desert Inn at Kachina Point in Petrified Forest National Park		 View of the Painted Desert from Kachina Point in Petrified Forest National Park
View of the Painted Desert from Kachina Point in Petrified Forest National Park		 The Painted Desert from Tawa Point in Petrified Forest National Park
The Painted Desert from Tawa Point in Petrified Forest National Park

comment | share
Jola Dziubinska26-Jan-2014 12:53
Amazing geology, wonderful gallery! V.
carlogalliani25-Jan-2014 17:28
Great gallery !
Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)24-Jan-2014 21:07
Wonderful...V
Paolo
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