Some Of The Oldest Trees In The World Are Found In Colorado

What is your favorite kind of tree? While most of us have soft spots for aspen, pine, and oak, there is one little-known tree in Colorado that doesn’t look like the rest and – because of this – is often overlooked. Are you curious as to what this tree looks like and why it is so unique? Then you will want to check out these incredible 34-million-year-old Colorado trees:

Located near the small census-designated community of Florissant is the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, which is home to 6,000-acres of historical treasures and surprises!

Established in 1969, the Florissant Fossil Beds came to be upon the discovery of extensive insect and plant fossils, most of which were found in mudstones and shales of the Florissant Formation (c. 34 million years ago).

In addition to the uncovered fossils, the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is home to one of the last petrified forests in the country, as well as some of the world's few remaining gigantic redwood stumps.

While these redwoods were once tall and mighty, they fell victim to a millions-of-years-old volcanic eruption, which took out virtually everything but the sturdy stumps.

Before becoming a designated National Monument, the trees were consistently mutilated by scientists, students, and visitors looking for a piece of history to take home, leaving behind these smaller stumps that are now protected by the federal government.

While you are in the area, be sure also to check out the Monument's many trails that range from a 1/2-mile to 3.8 miles.

To learn more about the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and current conditions, please visit the National Park Service's website.

Do you have a place in Colorado that you would like to see featured on Only in Your State? You can nominate it here! For even more interesting places around the Centennial State, check out A Unique Structure In Colorado, The Moffat Tunnel Has A Fascinating History.

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Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, 15807 Co Rd 1, Florissant, CO 80816, USA

At Over 34 Million Years Old, Some Of The Oldest Trees In The World Are Found In Colorado

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