Traveler's Guide

East Macedonia & Thrace

Petrified Forest near the village of Raven

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The Petrified Forest is a unique natural phenomenon consisting of about 20 trees that were petrified about 30 million years ago. It occupies an area of 7.5 hectares. Millions of years ago there must have been an ancient forest of the Tertiary time, located close to the seashore. When volcanic activity started, the forest was buried and burned by the hot lava. The high temperatures carbonized whole trees or parts of them.
During the later stages of volcanic activity through these skeletons flowed waters carrying flint substance and filled the cavities thus forming fossilized trees. There are fallen, buried or broken petrified trees around the world but what is unique about the Petrified Forest near the village of Raven is that the trees are standing. Some of them have a well-preserved skeleton, others have a height of 1.5 m and a diameter of 4 m.There is clearly distinguishable tree rings in their vertical section. They look like long- burned trees – charred and opalized.
The Cliffs of the Eastern Rhodopes are towering above both sides of this small river. There are many unique trapezoidal niches that are inaccessible at some places. Vultures and eagles nest here.


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