Tour
of Lesvos | History | Wild
Life | Hot Water Springs | Petrified
Forest | MAP
Petrified Forest
of Lesvos island:
Near the
Holy Monastery of Hypsylou and in the area of Eressos, one can find
the Petrified Forest of
Lesvos. This natural monument is unique in the whole area of Europe.
On the whole Earth, only in Arizona USA a similar forest is situated
but that one is quite smaller and of lesser significance.
In
ancient times the Lesvos area has had many active volcanoes and the
creation of this monument is related to their activity. The age of the
Petrified Forest is estimated to be around 20.000.000 years.
At that
time the area was covered with trees like pinetrees, beechtrees,
planetrees, as well as palmtrees, segoyas and other species of flora.
This flora does not grow here any more, either in the European area,
or in the area of the Mediterranean Sea. They nowadays only grow in
the subtropical areas. An ancient period of high volcanic activity
caused a chain of chemical reactions and the petrifaction of the
forest was effected. Today, a limited number of these trees are
revealed because of the disintegration of the volcanic material which
had been covering them but most of them are still buried into the
subsoil.
The broad
area of the Petrified Forest occupies 15.000 hectares of the western
part of Lesvos and has
been pronounced by the state as "National Forest". The
visiting area is fenced, guarded and offers a unique 2,3 kilometers
long stroll among the fossils.
The
visitor has the chance to admire this rare geological monument and to
have a close look at excellently preserved trees which can be standing
like they are still alive or look like trunks fallen on the ground. In
between he will find pieces of petrified leaves and roots everywhere.
No
description can accurately be made of the luster of the fossils, their
sensational colours, the true grandeur and the wild beauty, but a
visit on the site. This visit can take place just following the
central road paved with asphalt, from Eressos to Sigri.
