 |  | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
|
Stunning Jasper Forest Scenic View April 14, 2024
Stunning scenic view of red buckwheat plants on a snow coated hill overlooking a desert valley with multi-colored rustic-brown canyon walls lining the horizon with a glimpse of a river bed below under a reddish tinted sky in Jasper Forest at Petrified Forest National Park. Jasper Forest was originally called First Forest as it was the first large accumulation of petrified wood reached from Adamana. The petrified log segments continue to erode from the 216-million-year-old Jasper Forest bed, which caps the exposures in the area, including Blue Mesa, Agate Bridge, and Crystal Forest. The forest was originally accessible by vehicle and the old road constructed by the CCC in the early 1930s still exists. The old road was also called the First Forest-Eagle Nest Rock Road. The historic road was closed on October 8, 1965 to reduce illegal petrified wood removal. The current overlook was completed that same month. Jasper Forest was home to geographical landmarks such as Eagle Nest Rock and the Snow Lady, both of which no longer exist because of erosion. The old road alignment can be explored using the Jasper Forest Off the Beaten Path route. The Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona encloses 221,390 acres with over 10,000 years of human history within the park, including over 800 archeological and historic sites. The Chinle Formation of the Triassic Period (about 225 million years ago) is the main geologic formation of the park. The Bidahochi Formation outcrops in the north, laid down during the Miocene and Pliocene of the Quaternary Period, about 3-8 million years ago. The brilliant colors in the petrified wood come mainly from three minerals. Pure quartz is white, manganese oxides form blue, purple, black, and brown, and iron oxides provide hues from yellow through red to brown. Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. National Park Service photo by Andrew V. Kearns. Larger Image > Facebook | Flickr More U.S. National Parks Photos | U.S. National Park Service Americans | I Am An American! | We The People | America's Destiny | Give Thanks | Love and Pride of USA | National Will God and Country | One Nation Under God | America's Symbol | Old Glory | Hooray USA! | America, My Home! Our Valiant Troops | I Am The One | Answering The Call | Brave Young | Brave Blue | Our Heroes, America's Best Veterans | Citizens Like Us | Vietnam War Veterans | Spouses Serve Too Honoring The Fallen | Don't Weep For Me | Remember The Fallen | Tears For Your Fallen | Our Wounded |
|
