Petrified Forest:

 

At the Western part of Lesvos island in the area between Sigri and Eressos, there is the petrified forest, a unique monument of nature, of very important Geological, Environmental and Paleontological importance.

 

 

 Researches have proved that 20 million years ago volcanicity at the area of N.E. Aegean sea, caused movement of volcanic material, that with an extremely great speed covered the forest, while the isolation of the phytogenic tissue from the surface, the hydrothermal circulation of warm silicon liquid,  caused the absolute petrifaction of the flora in this area.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Today, through the erosion of the volcanic stones, impressing trunks have revealed (20m. width), while the diameter is about 3m.  Excavations made by the Natural History Museum ( 1997 ) cooperated with Lesvos Forests Management, have revealed findings with great scientific worth, like the trunk of a petrified tree ( Taxodioxylon albertense) that is the biggest in Europe ( 7,02m.height,  8,58m. perimeter). Other petrified trunks that belonged to bays, cypresses, sycamores e.t.c. are exposed to the museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural History Museum:

 

In 1985, the Greek Country - with presidential enactment - proclaimed the Petrified Forest as a Preserved Monument of Nature, aiming to protect it.  In 1994 a  super- modern Museum was built, in order to protect, research and preserve the museum.

 

 

The building constructed with stonework made by grey lava, major ingredient of the area.

 

 

Next to the museum, a Petrified Forest Park created, where petrified trees and trunks are exposed to the visitors. The most important finding of the park are the roots of the petrified trees.

 

 

Roots and trunks with wonderful colors are coming into view through the volcanic ashes that encloses them.