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Petrified Forest Trail
Opened publicly in 1929 the Petrified Forest
of the Black Hills is one of the largest out-cropping of fossilized petrified
wood in the area.
Elk Creek Resort's Petrified Forest of the Black Hills offers a one hour tour
starting with a 15 minute video which takes you through the history of the Black
Hills from the earth’s beginning to present day. The tour continues through our
Museum which houses Petrified Wood, Rocks & Fossils that are 120 to 130 million
years old. You will then hike through the Petrified Forest and experience the
knowledge gained from the video and museum.
 
What is a Petrified
Forest?
South Dakota has an abundance of Different
Fossil Species
The terrain today is not the same as it was during the Cretaceous Period
During the early Cretaceous Period , the entire North American continent was
located much farther south. The area, now called South Dakota, was a few degrees
to the south of our present latitude and was much closer to sea level. Also, at
that time, there were no Rocky Mountains. The combined effects of these
geographical differences resulted in an entirely different climate and air mass
circulation patterns. Apparently, during the Cretaceous Period , what is now
South Dakota experienced higher average temperatures and greater precipitation
than occur here today. Over the great expanse of geologic time, the North
American plate acted as a huge barge, carrying the fallen trees that were buried
under sediments. As the land mass gradually moved north and west, petrifaction
of the trees occurred.
http://www.northern.edu/natsource/earth/Petrif1.htm
Don't forget to
visit our Gift Shops!
Gallery of Stone Gift Shop
Polished Stones, Rocks,
Black Hills Petrified Wood, Crystals, Fossils & Gifts.
 Pine Tree Gift Shop
Unique
Gifts, Novelties, Jewelry, Books.
    
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