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Petrified Forest National Park
Welcome to Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park, a place of scientific history and beautiful red rock landscapes containing fossils that are over 200 million years in age.
Park History: Some of the earliest humans to settle in what is now Petrified Forest National Park arrived over 12,000 years ago. Archeologists have discovered many artifacts that suggest that the weather patterns changed over time forcing people to leave the region in order to find better agricultural land. The differences in the jewelry, weapons, and other artifacts also points to major cultural changes over the millenia.
Some of the first known Europeans to enter the region were members of Spanish expeditions of the mid 16th century. The Spanish did not find any evidence that there were any permanent settlements on this land at the time but they did meet nomadic members of the Hopi, Zuni, and javajo tribes. The petrified forest itself was discovered during the construction of the railroads in 1853 in which a member of the Whipple Expedition described it as "Quite a forest of petrified trees...They are converted into beautiful specimens of variegated jasper...Fragments are strewn over the surface for miles." In 1906, this land fell under protection status with the designation of Petrified Forest National Monument.
Flora and Fauna: The deserts of Petrified Forest National Park helps protect the home of numerous plant and animal species. Some of the non-fossilized plants that grow inside the park boundaries include several cacti species and Indian paintbrush. Some of the wild animals who call this place home include hummingbirds, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, golden eagles, collared lizards, rattlesnakes, skunks, rabbits, porcupines, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and bobcats. Please treat their home with respect.
For the lover of the outdoors Petrified Forest National Park boasts backpacking opportunities in a 52,000 acre wilderness area, beautiful scenery, and much more. Come on out and explore.
This was RecPlanet place of the day on December 5, 2017.