Greece asks for recognition of Lesbos Isle petrified wood as object of UNESCO

This unique dead wood occupies an area of nearly 150 square km in the neighborhood of Sigri, Eresos and Antissa cities in the Western part of Lesbos Isle.

The petrified wood of Lesbos is the result of intensive volcanic activity occured nearly 20 mln years ago: from the end of Oligocene age till the middle of Miocene epoch. In ashfalls, apart from ejection, dejection and other substances, which had covered growth, was found. As a result of diagenesis (totality of phenomena concerning transformation of unconsolidated sediments into secondary rock) organic structure of tree trunk had gradually been changed into minerals. The main material of petrified trees on Lesbos is amorphous opal that makes a local “wood” unique, unparalleled anywhere in the world. Besides that, there are growth rings and other morphological characteristics of trunks saved.

Petrified wood of Lesbos is a natural monument, since 1985 it has been protected by government. In 1987 on island it has been created the first park of petrified trees, and in 2012 the whole Lesbos has been spread with the conservation area of geologic park

In the world there are lots of places where petrified trees may be seen. These are, for example, national park Petrified-Forest in Arizona state, and geologic park Paleorotta in Brazil; however, poured wood on Lesbos in the greatest one in the world. Greek petrified wood will take up a proper position in list of UNESCO which is added with 17 monuments, such as ruins of ancient city Delphi or the Acropolis.