PETRIFIED FOREST The Petrified Forest National Park is located in Arizona in the USA. Long ago the region was covered by a dense forest and mighty rivers cut across the terrain. Water caused by heavy flooding forced dead trees to float to a low lying swampland. In the deep quagmire of the swamp and having, in effect, been hermitically sealed, the trees were subsequently covered by layers of sediment. Thus their further decomposition was halted. As the trees piled deeper and deeper into the swamp the petrification process began. Mud, sand and volcanic ash settled above the trees that gradually absorbed minerals from the surrounding moisture. Thus, hundreds of fossilised trunks developed that today are scattered across the prairie. Today, the Petrified Forest’s formerly tall conifers are the most common examples of this stone world of plants that dates back to prehistory. The numerous colours of the pure quartz and various other varieties of the "stone trees" are quite remarkable and in stark contrast to the bright blue of the mostly cloudless sky. Most impressive is the millions of years old geologic phenomenon of the stone forest in the southern region that is situated only two kilometres from the entrance to the national park. In the Long Logs area that is located close to Giant Logs, there are hundreds of thousands of fossilised specimens. There are around three hundred archaeological sites in the park that range from small discoveries that have uncovered items of clay, to the incredible Pueblo dwellings of the Anasazi Indians. The Petrified Forest National Park combines the majestic brilliance of its petrifaction with the rugged beauty of a colourful desert. It is, without doubt, a unique masterpiece of Nature.