The park is home to diverse wildlife adapted to the arid environment. Common mammals include guanacos (Lama guanicoe), Patagonian foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus), European hares, and various species of small rodents. The avian population includes Darwin's rheas (Rhea pennata), Andean condors (Vultur gryphus), eagles, and several species of ground-dwelling birds. Reptiles such as lizards and snakes are also present, though less commonly seen. Many of these animals have adapted behavioral and physical characteristics to survive in this challenging environment.
Despite the arid conditions, the park supports various desert-adapted plant species typical of the Patagonian steppe ecosystem. The vegetation is predominantly low-growing and includes coirón grass (Festuca gracillima), neneo shrubs (Mulinum spinosum), calafate bushes (Berberis buxifolia), and various species of hardy desert plants. These plants have evolved to survive in the harsh conditions, with adaptations to withstand strong winds and limited rainfall. The modern vegetation provides a stark contrast to the ancient forest that once thrived here during the more humid Jurassic period.
The park's main geological feature is its extensive collection of petrified tree trunks, which were formed during the Middle Jurassic period. These fossils were created when ancient conifers were buried by volcanic ash and gradually replaced by minerals, primarily silica, through a process called permineralization. The petrified logs, some reaching up to 30 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter, maintain their original wooden structure in remarkable detail, including growth rings and bark patterns. The surrounding landscape consists of sedimentary rocks, volcanic formations, and typical Patagonian plateau topography.
Bosques Petrificados National Park was established in 1954 to protect one of the world's most important petrified forests. The area was first inhabited by indigenous peoples who left behind archaeological evidence including rock art and tools. The petrified forest was formed approximately 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period when volcanic activity buried an ancient forest under ash and sediment. The park gained National Monument status in 1954 and was later designated as a National Park in 2013, encompassing 78,543 hectares of protected land.
The park's most impressive feature is the 'Forest of Stone,' where visitors can observe hundreds of petrified tree trunks scattered across the landscape. The Monument Trail (Sendero del Monumento) leads to the park's centerpiece, an enormous petrified trunk measuring 1.7 meters in diameter. The Visitor Center provides educational displays about the park's geology and natural history. Several viewpoints offer panoramic vistas of the Patagonian steppe and the scattered petrified remains. The park also contains important paleontological sites where fossils of prehistoric plants and animals have been discovered, making it a significant location for scientific research.
The park experiences a semi-arid climate typical of Patagonian steppe, characterized by cold winters and mild summers. Annual rainfall is low, averaging only 200mm per year, with strong winds being a constant presence throughout the year, particularly in spring and summer. Temperatures can range from below freezing in winter (June-August) to around 25°C (77°F) in summer (December-February). The best time to visit is during the southern hemisphere spring (October-November) or autumn (March-April) when temperatures are moderate and winds are slightly less intense.
Argentina
-47.6670°, -68.0000°
1954
783.68
Bosques Petrificados National Park features one of the world's largest concentrations of petrified wood. The park preserves ancient fossilized trees from the Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years old. The landscape is characterized by stark Patagonian steppe and remarkable geological formations.