Ginkgo Petrified Forest - Washington - U.S. National Natural Landmarks on Waymarking.com

The coordinates for this waymark are at park visitor center where there is a U.S. National Natural Landmark plaque. The other auto accessable point in the park is about 2 miles to the west at an interpretive trail.
The Ginkgo Petrified Forest is the only known petrified forest that has been preserved in a lava flow. The typical petrified forest is buried in volcanic ash or covered by sediments. The concentration of petrified logs than the Vantage area is greater than any other known deposit. In addition, nowhere has a greater number of different types of petrified woods been found in a single area. More than 200 types have been recognized and the genera and species of 75 established. In general at most other petrified forests around the world no more than 10 to 20 different types of petrified wood have been identified. This is the most diverse collection of species from different ecological setting found at any petrified forest in the world. There are representative species from uplands, lowlands, swamps, drylands, temperate and warm temperate settings. This summary of the significance of the Ginkgo Petrified Forest is based on information found at (visit link)
State highway workers began finding petrified wood in the area as early as 1927. The State purchased a key 10-acre parcel in 1935 and established the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. Crews from the Civilian Conservation Corps began excavations in 1936 and by 1938 had completed the excavation, trails, a small museum and caretaker’s cottage. The State Park opened to the public in 1938. In 1953, the original visitor center/museum was replaced by a new building at this site over looking the Columbia River. The park was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1965. By 1975, the park had been expanded to 7,470 acres. Ginkgo is the rarest variety of petrified wood found in the park. This summary of the history of the State Park comes from (visit link)

Predominate Feature: Petrified Wood Parking/Access Location: N 46° 57.275 W 119° 59.295 Ownership: State Terrain Rating: Admission Charged: no Landmark's Website: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/12/2023 giacaches visited it 08/15/2022 The A-Team visited it 05/19/2022 wildernessmama visited it 08/20/2017 find waldo visited it 04/06/2014 Cool Cow Cachers visited it 07/15/2011 PYNEKONE visited it 09/23/2009 Volcanoguy visited it

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