Fossilized Trees in Druzhkovka

Fossilized Trees in Druzhkovka town is an exceptional geological site of national significance.

The trees are ancient fossilized araucarias with a diameter of 1 metre. Aged over 250 million years, the trees refer to carboxcylic geological period, when they were down by a hurricane and plunged into the deep waters of the warm sea that used to be here. Fossilization lasted millions of years, while the salt water penetrated into the trees washing out organic substances and favouring accumulation of mineral.

Fossilized trees resemble newly-cut ones, though they are much heavier and quartz crystals can be seen. Such trees are a rare phenomenon globally. Arizona Desert is the second place on the globe where fossilized araucarias were discovered.

Curiously enough, but Druzhkovka trees were found accidentally by a group of students from a local school who were taking a tour around Druzhkovka surroundings as a part of their natural history class. Today the fossilized trees belong to Top-100 Ukraine Wonders List and attract many tourists from all over Ukraine.

Location
Druzhkovka town, Donetsk oblast

Back