It was 35 millions years ago that when volcanic eruption took place around the lake Florissant and petrified the red woods that used to grow there. Huge petrified red woods and very detailed fossils of insect and plant reveal a very different landscape of Colorado of long ago. Today it is situated in teller county, Colorado United States.

Sediments were formed and the fossils of these organisms were secured and it was not until a long after that these fossils were found by the archeologists. Many of the insects found there in were described by entomologist Theodore Cockerell. The Florissant fossil bed became the part of the national park system in 1969. Florissant means flowering in French and the Florissant flowering bed national monument is known for its beautiful plant life.

When volcanic eruption takes place the mud flow blanketed parts of the forest surrounding the lake Florissant killing the entire tree. The insects, plants etc which cannot move are buried in the cloud and those which falls in the lake are buried. These eruption took place again and again unless as long as the 700,000 years ago. Each time the life is trapped in the layer of volcanic sediments at the bottom of the lake and eventually they were transformed into fossils.

Today Florissant fossil beds national monument safeguards this site. The fossils were internationally renowned and are supposed to give complete information of life at that time particularly of fossils and plant since they were discovered in 1800s.paleantologists have collected 60000 specimens for museums. These fossils reveal what life of that time was like. A massive petrified red wood stump clearly reveals that that time has its giants too.

Yet little remains of ancient Florissant lake life. Fossil bones, teeth, shells and feather reveals the existence of the mollusks, fish, birds, opossum, mesohippus (an ancestor of modern horse) and oreodonts ( an ancient pig like animals). But unless the mammal or bird died near the lake its chance of preservation were very slim.

You can definitely call these as a buried treasure. I do feel that every body knows that what the importance of the old fossils is. The archeologists are really interested in discovering the life of the old times and fossils like that of Florissant Lake help them a lot. You can really not say that this is not the case.

The rich fossils discovered at the Florissant Lake clearly give a complete description of the life in North America. These fossils of plants and animals are relatively new in terms of the geologic terms. And you can easily understand that what its importance is. I do feel that you will love visiting this place.

Tags: florissant fossil beds national monument, national monument fossils, red woods