National Fossil Wood Park, Tiruvakkarai, Geological park in Tiruvakkarai, India.
The National Fossil Wood Park in Tiruvakkarai is a geological heritage site containing over 200 petrified tree trunks scattered across its grounds. The trunks vary in size and some remain in their original positions, giving visitors a direct sense of how the ancient forest once looked.
These tree trunks formed about 200 million years ago when the region was covered by forests that later turned to stone through mineral-rich groundwater. The site was first scientifically documented by European naturalists in the 1700s and was eventually protected as a heritage monument.
Local traditions associate these stone trees with mythological stories, interpreting them as transformed remains from ancient divine conflicts.
The park is easy to explore on foot, with marked paths leading to the main tree trunks. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and prepare for sunny conditions, as shade is limited throughout the site.
The petrification happened through a process called silicification, where mineral-rich water gradually replaced the wood structure layer by layer. This natural process preserved details like tree rings so well that visitors can still see the internal structure on some specimens.
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