Petrified Forest Peloponnese

The particular Petrified Forest, we find it on the coast of Agios Nikoloas near the beautiful Elafonissos island.

Being a real rarity (we find another on the Lesbos island which preserves a tree twenty million years ago but this is another story ...) it is part of the Atlas of geological monuments of the Aegean, and falls within the most important Geoparks of all Europe.

Commonly called Fossil Forest, it appears as a landscape completely foreign to our Mother Earth, almost as if it were from another planet and where time has literally stopped. It is made up of pines, palms and completely stone trees dating back millions of years. Its formation was possible due to the continuous earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that have mummified the paleoflora of the region through the process of permineralization. Let's explain it in simpler words since not all of us are paleontologists. In previous eras and we are really talking about millions of years ago, the Laconia area like many others, had a subtropical climate with average warm temperatures around 20 degrees, with hot summers, mild winters and rains divided into the various seasons. Following a strong volcanic eruption it is hypothesized that a brutal flood occurred which affected the whole area, submerging much of the forest with sea water. The sand and debris made of calcium, silicon and quartz that covered the area made them calcify over time, molecule after molecule, thus maintaining the original shape of the plants but transforming them into rock. As evidence of all this, you will notice that shells and molluscs can be found stuck in the trunks.

Let's start by saying that it is located in the extreme tip of Laconia. It will therefore be necessary to reach Neapoli, follow the signs towards Agios Nikolas and again towards the Fossil Forest passing between fields and fields of aloe vera until you reach a dirt road (practically an old mule track but which being careful is very feasible by car). After about three kilometers, just past a typical lost white church, you will have arrived at your destination.

If you are staying in Elafonissos, just take the ferry that every day every hour or so connects the island to Pounda which also allows you to embark the car and from there continue to Neapoli and the Petrified Forest. For the duration of the trip we are talking about about an hour. And if you want an Italian-speaking guide to accompany you on the excursion, contact us and we will let you have this wonderful experience with Francesca, a dear friend of ours who lives in Elafonissos and who will also be able to offer you one of her wonderful apartments where to stay, introduce you to other beautiful features of the region. https://www.meraviglioseisolegreche.com/isole-greche/elafonissos/il-vecchio-frantoio.aspx

A real "archive of time codes" not to be missed during your holidays in Greece in the Peloponnese.

The information center is open to the public until the end of August every day from 10.00 to 19.00 with free admission.

To find out more, visit the website:

https://www.keppedm.gr/geoparko/