The Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. The words sound like places in a child’s adventure book. Like most attractions we’ve seen, these are dry desert places, which, because the land is dry and barren make them special places. Let’s begin with the painted desert.
Many rocks and mesas have a cap of hard rock on top of a softer rock. This gives them a look of wearing a cap.
These hills and mountains are formed by many different layers of soil, each layer having a different color. It's beautiful, isn't it?
Here are more photos of hills, these having a whitish top layer
This is part of a tree that once lay in a swamp. Over time silica replaced the wood, leaving a beautiful agate that still retains the character of the wood.
Sometimes crystals formed inside of the wood. It's hard to see but there are sparkly white crystals running with the grain of the wood.
This petrified log lay in the way of a stream bed. For a while it spanned the stream. Later a concrete support was placed below it.
When our children lived with us, they delighted in creating Smith National Landmarks, which were three or more rocks stacked on top of each other. It looks like someone else likes to do that too.
Beautiful pictures, and I’m glad you’ve made a note about people using them. The petrified tree (now agate) is amazing!
Squirt loved his Carlsbad Caverns postcard! That was cool!
Love, Cindy
comment by Cinders — October 30, 2009 @ 3:43 am
I hope the card came with the 3D glasses still attached. I have something else for him, but I’ll have to mail it.
comment by Marilyyne — October 30, 2009 @ 10:41 am