Geosite Goudberg, Petrified forest in Hoegaarden, Belgium
Geosite Goudberg is a location in Hoegaarden containing fossilized tree trunks from around 55 million years ago that have retained their internal wood structure. These fossils formed through silicification, a natural process where minerals gradually replaced the original material over time.
Construction crews accidentally discovered the petrified trees in 1970 while building the E40 highway. The finds were then systematically studied and formally protected as a geosite beginning in the early 1990s.
The site reveals what the region looked like millions of years ago and helps visitors understand the subtropical conditions of the Paleocene period. Walking through allows you to see how different Europe's climate once was and what kinds of plants thrived in this area.
Access to the petrified trees at the site itself may be limited, but two notable specimens are on display at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels. Plan your visit to the area in advance and check opening hours before you go.
The collection consists mainly of swamp cypress trees, which are not found in such large numbers in this form anywhere else in Western Europe. These trees were well adapted to the warm, wet climate of that time and reveal much about the ecology of the region millions of years ago.
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