Mainly two Petrified Forests exist in the World. The one is in Lesvos Island and the other one in Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Petrified tree with Painted Desert background Newspaper Rock petroglyph site Petrified trees Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona, along Interstate 40 between Holbrook and Navajo. ... Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona, along Interstate 40 between Holbrook and Navajo. ... Official language(s) None Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area  Ranked 6th  - Total 113,998 sq mi (295,254 km²)  - Width 310 miles (500 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ...

Remains of fossil plants, which form the famous Petrified Forest of Lesvos, declared as Protected Natural Monument, have been found in many localities on the western part of Lesvos island. The fossilised forest of Lesvos was developed during Late Oligocene to Lower - Middle Miocene, due to the intense volcanic activity in the area. Neogene volcanic rocks dominate the central and western part of the island, comprising andesites, dacites and rhyolites, ingnibrite, pyroclastics, tuffs and volcanic ash. The products of the volcanic activity had covered the vegetation of the area and the fossilisation process took place due to favourable conditions. The fossilised plants in Lesvos are silicified remnants of a sub-tropical forest that existed on the north-west part of the island 20-15 million years ago. A fossil Ammonite Fossils (from Latin fossus, literally having been dug up) are the mineralized or otherwise preserved remains or traces (such as footprints) of animals, plants, and other organisms. ... Divisions Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta - liverworts Anthocerotophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongues Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering plants Adiantum pedatum (a fern... A forest is an area with a high density of trees (or, historically, a wooded function as carbon dioxide sinks, animal habitats, hydrologic flow modulators, and soil conservers, constituting one of the most important aspects of the Earths biosphere. ... The Oligocene epoch is a geologic period of time that extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present. ... The Miocene epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23 to 5. ... This article is about volcanoes in geology. ... Ignimbrite is a deposit of a pyroclastic flow. ... A sample of andesite (dark groundmass) with amygdaloidal vesicules filled with zeolite. ... Gray, red, black, altered white/tan, flow-banded pumice dacite Dacite is a high-silica igneous, volcanic rock. ... Rhyolite Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic (extrusive) rock, of felsic composition, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. ... Pyroclastic rocks are formed from lavas which are ejected into the air, as occur in pyroclastic flows or Plinian eruptions. ... Welded tuff at Golden Gate in Yellowstone National Park Tuff (from the Italian tufo and pronounced tuf) is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. ... Diamond Head, a well-known backdrop to Waikiki in Hawaii, is an ash cone that solidified into tuff Volcanic ash is the term for very fine rock and mineral particles less than 2 mm in diameter that are ejected from a volcanic vent. ... Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants, and is, by far, the most abundant biotic element of the biosphere. ... For other uses of the term, see Fossil (disambiguation) Fossils are the mineralized remains of animals or plants or other artifacts such as footprints. ... Subtropical (or semitropical) areas are those adjacent to the tropics, usually roughly defined as the ranges 23. ...

Development of the Petrified Forest

The area enclosed by the villages of Eressos, Antissa and Sigri, exposes large accumulations of fossilised tree trunks comprising the Petrified Forest of Lesvos. Isolated plant-fossils have been found in many other places of the island, including the villages Molyvos, Polichnitos, Plomari and Akrasi. The formation of the Petrified Forest is directly related to the intense volcanic activity in Lesvos island during late Oligocene - middle Miocene. The volcanic eruptions during this time, produced lavas, pyroclastic materials and volcanic ash, which covered the vegetation of the area. The rapid covering of tree trunks, branches, and leaves led to isolation from atmospheric conditions. Along with the volcanic activity, hot solutions of silicon dioxide penetrated and impregnated the volcanic materials that covered the tree trunks. Thus the major fossilisation process started with a molecule by molecule replacement of organic plant by inorganic materials. In the case of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos, the fossilisation was perfect due to favourable fossilisation conditions. Therefore morphological characteristics of the tree trunks such as the annual rings, barkers, as well as the internal structure of the wood, are all preserved in excellent condition. Eressos is a beautiful beach village at the south-west of the island of Lesbos in Greece. ... Antissa (Αντισσαιος) was a city of the island Lesbos (Lesvos), near to Cape Sigrium, the western point of Lesbos. ... A village is a human residential settlement commonly found in rural areas. ... Methymna is also an archaeological site in the prefecture of Chania, see Methymna, Crete Mithymna (Greek:Μήθυμνα), ancient form Methymna, is the second most important town on Lesbos. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Petrified tree with Painted Desert background Newspaper Rock petroglyph site Petrified trees Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona, along Interstate 40 between Holbrook and Navajo. ... This article is about volcanoes in geology. ... Lesbos (Λέσβος) is a prefecture of Greece, part of the periphery North Aegean. ... The Miocene epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23 to 5. ... Lava is molten rock that a volcano expels during an eruption. ... Pyroclastic rocks are formed from lavas which are ejected into the air, as occur in pyroclastic flows or Plinian eruptions. ... Diamond Head, a well-known backdrop to Waikiki in Hawaii, is an ash cone that solidified into tuff Volcanic ash is the term for very fine rock and mineral particles less than 2 mm in diameter that are ejected from a volcanic vent. ... Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants, and is, by far, the most abundant biotic element of the biosphere. ... R-phrases R42 R43 R49 S-phrases S22 S36 S37 S45 S53 Flash point non-flammable Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... Pinus taeda cross section showing annual growth rings (Cheraw, South Carolina) In botany, trunk refers to the main structural member of a tree that is supported by and directly attached to the roots and which in turn supports the branches. ... For other uses of the term, see Fossil (disambiguation) Fossils are the mineralized remains of animals or plants or other artifacts such as footprints. ... In chemistry, a molecule is an aggregate of at least two atoms in a definite arrangement held together by special forces. ... Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and reactions of inorganic compounds. ... Morphology is the following: In linguistics, morphology is the study of the structure of word forms. ... A ring is usually anything resembling a circle, or a noise that cycles rapidly. ...

Palaeoflora of the Petrified Forest

The study of the fossil tree trunks, leaves and seeds gives useful data about the Palaeoflora, the climate and the relative age of the Petrified Forest. In addition to the large number of fossilised leaves, the genus or the species of the trees, can also be determined from the micro-analysis of the internal structure of the fossil wood. The erect tree trunks, with their roots and branches, give evidence that the fossilisation took place in situ. A fossil Ammonite Fossils (from Latin fossus, literally having been dug up) are the mineralized or otherwise preserved remains or traces (such as footprints) of animals, plants, and other organisms. ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth. ... Pinus taeda cross section showing annual growth rings (Cheraw, South Carolina) In botany, trunk refers to the main structural member of a tree that is supported by and directly attached to the roots and which in turn supports the branches. ... Leaves are an Icelandic five-piece alternative rock band who came to prominence in 2002 with their debut album, Breathe, drawing comparisons to groups such as Coldplay and Doves. ... This writeup is about biological seeds; for other meanings see Seed (disambiguation). ... Petrified tree with Painted Desert background Newspaper Rock petroglyph site Petrified trees Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona, along Interstate 40 between Holbrook and Navajo. ... In biology, a genus (plural genera) is a taxonomic grouping. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ...

Despite the fact that the systematic study of the petrified forest has not yet been completed, the classification of the fossils permits certain conclusions to be drawn. All of the genera and species determined, belong to higher plant groups: Angiospermae and Gymnospermae. Complete development of the flora was achieved in the presence of Angiosperms, the most evolved plants. Angiospermae is one of several botanical names allowed (see Art 16 of the ICBN) for the most important group of plants on land, i. ... Coast Douglas-fir cone Gymnosperms (Gymnospermae) is a name for a group of seed-bearing (and thus vascular) plants. ... This article is about biological evolution. ...

The following taxa have been determined:

 1. Cinnamomum polymorphum HEER sensu GRANGEON 2. Laurus sp. 3. Litsea primigenia (UNG.) TAKHT. 4. Lindera ovate KOLAK. 5. Oreodaphne heeri GAUD. 6. Quercus apocynophyllum ETT. 7. Quercus crutiata AL.BR. 8. Carpinus pliofaurei RATIANI forma helladae n. f. 9. Carpinus uniserata (KOLAKOVSKI) RATANI (?) 10. Alnus cycladum UNGER fo parvifolia n. f. 11. Populus balsamoides GOEPP. 12. Populus sp. 13. Tilia sp. 14. Diospyros brachysepala AL. BR. 15. Myrsinites sp. 16. Rhus sp. 17. Daphnogene polymorpha AL.BR. 18. Pinoxylon paradoxum SUSS & VELITZELOS (sp.nov.) 19. Pinoxylon pseudoparadoxum SUSS & VELITZELOS (sp.nov.) 20. Taxaceoxylon biseriatum SUSS & VELITZELOS (sp.nov.) 21. Taxodioxylon gypsaceum (GOPPERT) KRAUSEL 

From phytogeographical point of view the above mentioned plants can be distinguished into two main groups. The first group contain subtropical plants like Laurus (laurel), Cinnamomum (cinnamon), whose related species are found in the forests of south-eastern Asia. The second group includes plants which prefer mild temperatures like Alnus (alder), Carpinus (hornbill), Populus (poplar), Querqus (oak), Pinus (pine), Taxodioxylon gypsaceum (sequoia), etc. Related vegetation flourishes today in the warm continental zones of South-eastern Asia and North America. Species Franco Azores Laurel L. Bay Laurel Laurus is a genus of evergreen trees belonging to the Laurel family, Lauraceae. ... Species See text Cinnamomum is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the Laurel family, Lauraceae. ... A forest is an area with a high density of trees (or, historically, a wooded function as carbon dioxide sinks, animal habitats, hydrologic flow modulators, and soil conservers, constituting one of the most important aspects of the Earths biosphere. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... For other uses, see Alder (disambiguation). ... Species Carpinus betulus _ European Hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana - American Hornbeam Carpinus cordata - Sawa Hornbeam Carpinus fargesii - Farges Hornbeam Carpinus laxiflora - Aka-shide Hornbeam Carpinus japonica - Japanese Hornbeam Carpinus orientalis - Oriental Hornbeam Carpinus tschonoskii - Chonowskis Hornbeam Carpinus turczaninowii - Turkzaninovs Hornbeam The hornbeams (Carpinus) are a genus of relatively small... This article is about woody plants of the genus Populus. ... This article deals with the tree; for the e-mail client see Pine email client Species About 115. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ...

A comparison of the stratigraphic expanse of the plant fossils with other European flora and with the Palaeoflora of Greece leads us to the conclusion that the Palaeoflora of Lesvos developed during Late Oligocene - Lower Miocene, under subtropical or warm temperate seasonal climatic conditions. A comparison is an evaluation of similarities and differences - described by Gregory Bateson in his book Mind and Nature as the two quanta of experience. ... Lesbos (Λέσβος) is a prefecture of Greece, part of the periphery North Aegean. ... The Oligocene epoch is a geologic period of time that extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present. ... The Miocene epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23 to 5. ...

Protection and Preservation

The Greek State recognised the exceptional palaeontological and geological value of this unique Natural Monument. Geology (from Greek γη- (ge-, the earth) and λογος (logos, word, reason)) is the science and study of the Earth, its composition, structure, physical properties, history, and the processes that shape it. ... A Natural Monument is a natural/cultural feature which is of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative of aesthetic qualities or cultural significance. ...

In order to protect the Petrified Forest and ensure its proper management, five terrestrial and marine areas with fossil accumulations, as well as all the isolated fossils were declared as Protected Natural Monument with a special Presidential Degree (443 /1985). Petrified tree with Painted Desert background Newspaper Rock petroglyph site Petrified trees Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona, along Interstate 40 between Holbrook and Navajo. ...

The need for further research and protection of the fossils led to the establishment of the Natural History Museum of Lesvos' Petrified Forest in 1994. Its scope is to undertake scientific research on the Petrified forest as well as to preserve and to promote this natural monument. Research is often described as an active, diligent, and systematic process of inquiry aimed at discovering, interpreting and revising facts. ...

In addition the Museum will organize special environmental education programs in order to cultivate a widespread sense of respect to the Earth's Heritage and the Natural monuments, among young students. The National Gallery in London, a famous museum. ... Earth (often referred to as The Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth in order of size. ...

The recently established Natural History Museum of Lesvos' Petrified Forest, therefore, has the potential to be a centre for palaeontological and other scientific research. Further research in the Petrified Forest will provide new data concerning the stratigraphy, palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology, and palaeogeography of the Southeast Mediterranean area, at the Cross-roads of Europe and Asia. Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, is basically the study of rock layers and layering (stratification). ... Paleoclimatology is the study of climate change taken on the scale of the entire history of the earth. ... Palaeogeography is the study of the ancient geography of the Earths surface. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... World map showing Europe Political map Europe is one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ...

The Significance of the Petrified Forest

The high proportion of upright petrified tree trunks, with well preserved roots in the fossilised soil, allows us to infer that the petrified forest of Lesvos Isl. represents a complete autochthonous (fossilised in situ) ecosystem. Proportion A proportion is an equation with a ratio on each side. ... Pinus taeda cross section showing annual growth rings (Cheraw, South Carolina) In botany, trunk refers to the main structural member of a tree that is supported by and directly attached to the roots and which in turn supports the branches. ... Primary and secondary roots in a cotton plant In vascular plants, the root is that organ of a plant body that typically lies below the surface of the soil (compare with stem). ... Soil is the material on the surface of a lithosphere subject to weathering, and especially the earthy portion of that material. ... Lesbos (Λέσβος) is a prefecture of Greece, part of the periphery North Aegean. ... Indigenous peoples are: Peoples living in an area prior to colonization by a state Peoples living in an area within a nation-state, prior to the formation of a nation-state, but who do not identify with the dominant nation. ... In ecology, an ecosystem is a combination of all the living and non-living elements of an area. ...

The fossilised forest was developed during the time period from the end of the Late Oligocene to Lower - Middle Miocene (ca. 20 - 15 million years before present), in contrast to most well known fossilised forests on Earth, which developed in earlier geological periods. According to recent scientific data, the composition of the fossil flora is characterised by a high proportion of angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms (conifers), and a low proportion of Pteridophytes (ferns). The Oligocene epoch is a geologic period of time that extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present. ... The Miocene epoch is a period of time that extends from about 23 to 5. ... One million (1000000), one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999999 and preceding 1000001. ... Earth (often referred to as The Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth in order of size. ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms or Magnoliophyta) are one of the major groups of modern plants, comprising those that produce seeds in specialized reproductive organs called flowers, where the ovulary or carpel is enclosed. ... Gymnosperms are seed-bearing, vascular plants. ... Classes Marattiopsida Osmundopsida Gleicheniopsida Pteridopsida A fern, or pteridophyte, is any one of a group of some twenty thousand species of plants classified in the Division Pteridophyta, formerly known as Filicophyta. ...

The silicified tree trunks and their organs - especially the wood - are very well preserved. Furthermore, fossilised leaves, cones and seeds provide the raw data for important scientific studies. An organ is the following: In anatomy, an organ is a group of tissues which perform some function. ... Leaves are an Icelandic five-piece alternative rock band who came to prominence in 2002 with their debut album, Breathe, drawing comparisons to groups such as Coldplay and Doves. ... A cone is a basic geometrical shape: see cone (geometry). ... This writeup is about biological seeds; for other meanings see Seed (disambiguation). ...

Taxonomic study of the flora shows that they do not grow today in the Mediterranean, but only in tropical to subtropical regions such as Asia and America. The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ... Subtropical (or semitropical) areas are those adjacent to the tropics, usually roughly defined as the ranges 23. ... Region can be used to mean either: any more or less well-defined geographical area of a country or continent, defined by geography, culture or history in political geography, an administrative subdivision of a country or of the European Union. ... World map showing the location of Asia. ... America is usually meant as either: the Americas, the lands and regions of the Western hemisphere, usually subdivided into North America, Central America and South America. ...

All of the above mentioned criteria certify that the Petrified Forest of Lesvos represents an important stage of the Earth's evolutionary processes. It is considered as a unique natural geological monument which offers rare scientific information, like no other analogous monument from this time period and stage of plant development ever existed. A hypothetical phylogenetic tree of all extant organisms, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data, showing the evolutionary history of the three domains of life, bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. ... The Taj Mahal, commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, as a mausoleum for his wife, Arjumand Banu Begum. ... Information as a concept bears a diversity of meanings, from everyday usage to technical settings. ... This is a list of named time periods defined in various fields of study. ...

External Links

• Ministry Of Culture, Natural History Museum Of The Lesvos Petrified Forest
• Ministry Of Culture, Natural History Museum Of The Lesvos Petrified Forest Information
• The Petrified Forest of Lesvos Island
• Photos from The Petrified Forest of Lesvos Island