Collecting Fossils in California - Trees

<BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> <P><FONT COLOR="#000000">Petrified Forest Site -</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>This site is located in the Napa Valley in Sonoma County, just north of San Francisco. It's named 'The Petrified Forest' and is registered as California Historical Landmark #915. It's privately owned and tour services are available.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>The Petrified Forest was formed when a huge volcano erupted around 3 million years ago. The eruptions, and ash fall that followed, lasted for many thousand years! Combined with rain, this colossal geological event buried and preserved a gigantic forest that once stood there. The ash fall of Mount Saint Helens eruption in 1980, for example, lasted only 9 hours!</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>These petrified trees are the biggest fossils in the world. Some over 150 feet long!</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>The petrified forest is located just 8 miles from the town of Santa Rosa.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>From San Francisco take highway 101 North until you reach Santa Rosa. The drive takes approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes. In Santa Rosa take the Mark West Springs Rd. exit. Drive 8 miles until you reach a 'T' intersection. On the right is Calistoga Rd. and on the left is Petrified Forest Rd. Go left for a couple of miles. You will see a sign to The Petrified Forest and the main entrance driveway to your left.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>This self guided trail tour is a natural exhibit and includes explanation signs along the way. One of the first trees you'll see makes for a nice group photo.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>Soon comes "The Giant", at 60 feet in length and 6 feet in diameter. This tree was over 2,000 years old when it was buried. Then, "The Queen", with part of its original bark preserved. "The Monarch" is a tree partialy still buried with 105 feet in length exposed.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>The tour also includes many other specimens. At the end, don't forget to visit the very nice Store/Museum. It has many rocks and fossils in display.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>There is no collecting allowed in the tour area. However, the Store/Museum sells a great variety of petrified wood and other very interesting fossils.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>One of the remnants of the huge volcanic activity that occurred in the area over 3 million years ago is the Calistoga Geyser. It is only 5 minutes away from The Petrified Forest and is worth a visit.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>Go left at the exit until you reach highway 128. Turn left on 128 and right on Tubbs Road. The geyser entrance is at your left.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>This geyser is named "Old Faithful" because it steams exactly every 40 minutes. It is the most precise geyser in the world.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>The Petrified Forest and The Old Faithful Geyser are privately-owned natural exhibits and fossil collecting is strictly prohibited. However, you can take as many pictures and video as you want. Entrance fees are required for the exhibits. You can call The Petrified Forest at (707)942-667 and California's Old Faithful at (707)942-6463 for more information.</FONT></P> <P><FONT SIZE=-1>The following book is recommended for further reading:</FONT> </P> <UL> <LI><FONT SIZE=-1>"The Silverado Squatters" by Robert Louis Stevenson. This famous writter visited the petrified forest in 1880. He mentions in this book such visit and his meeting with 'Petrified Charlie' who discovered the forest in 1870.</FONT> </UL> <P>Viewing this page requires a browser capable of displaying frames. With that capability you will be able to view images and graphics associated to the text for much more enjoyable experience. If you have a frames capable browser, go to the following URL:</P> <P>http://www.gtlsys.com ('Collecting Fossils in California' home page) </BODY>