Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
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Petrified Forest National Park is a national park in Arizona. It is located in Navajo and Apache counties, about 26 miles (42 km) east of Holbrook. It was declared a National Monument in 1906, and elevated to national park in 1962.

Petrified Forest National Park got its named from the petrified wood that can be found in large numbers across the 93,533-acre (37,851-hectare) park. 50,260 acres (20,340 hectares) of Petrified Forest National Park is designated the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area, meaning that area is federal land set aside for scientific study and non-mechanized recreation (in other words, within the wilderness area, cars are forbidden to enter).

Petrified wood in Petrified Forest National Park
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The landscape of Petrified Forest National park is one of eroded and colorful badlands that provide breathtaking vistas. As the park is located at an elevation of 5,300 ft (1,615 m) to 6,235 ft (1,900), the air there is usually dry and windy. Temperatures fluctuates from extreme to extreme. In summer temperatures often soar to above 100°F (38°C) while in winter, it may drop below freezing point.

Despite the inhospitable climate, Petrified Forest National Park has an abundant wildlife. Among the animals found here include the Pronghorn Antelope, coyotes, bobcats and small animals such as deer mice, lizards and snakes. The park has 400 different species of plants, primarily different grasses.

Petrified Forest National Park attracts about 600,000 visitors per year, among them photography enthusiasts, hikers and casual sightseers. The colorful layered terrain of the badlands provide a good photography opportunity.

Blue Mesa, Petrified Forest National Park
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Visiting Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Interstate 40 going east from Winslow and take Exit 311. On the northern part of the national park is the Painted Desert, located within the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area.

The operating hours of Petrified Forest National Park is as follows:
23 Oct - 27 Feb: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
28 Feb - 8 May: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
9 May - 6 Sept: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
7 Sept - 23 Oct: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm

List of National Parks in the United States

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.