Prehistoric fossilized trees, over 225 million years old, are scattered across the breathtaking landscape of Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona. Once towering conifers that thrived in a lush river ecosystem during the Late Triassic period, these trees were buried by volcanic ash, allowing minerals like quartz to gradually replace their organic material, turning them to stone. Today, the park, covering roughly 346 square miles (896 square kilometers), hosts one of the world’s largest concentrations of petrified wood. These ancient logs, shimmering in vivid reds, oranges, and purples, are a stunning reminder of Earth’s distant past, blending beautifully with the vibrant desert scenery.
