Ban Tak Petrified Wood Forest Park
(ฟอสซิลไม้กลายเป็นหิน ตาก)
Tak
Bantak Petrified Forest Park is the largest petrified wood in Asia. Khao Phra Bat Forest Park, or as known as Bantak Petrified Forest Park, is where the largest petrified wood in Asia was discovered. The park spreads over an area of 30 square kilometres. It is located at Moo 7, Tak Ok Sub District, in the area of Mae Salid-Pong Daeng National Forest, around the 443rd kilometre on Highway No. 1, Phaholyothin Road. There is a guidepost on the right, opposite to Bantak Hospital. The park is about 2.5 kilometre away from Phaholyothin Road.
The discovered petrified wood measures 2 metre in diameter and 72.22 metre long. It is the largest petrified wood ever discovered in Asia and the longest worldwide. Petrified wood is a type of fossil created through natural phenomenon. Remains of tree absorb groundwater which contains silicate solution that, through the process of sedimentation, gradually replaces the molecule of tree one by one until all remains are petrified and no change in form or structure occur. Petrified wood is usually buried in layers of sandstones probably accumulated during the Quaternary Period, or around two million years ago. From the circulation of alluviums as appeared, the petrification likely occurred around the alluvial fan area of the ancient Ping River.
Tens of petrified wood were found during geological explorations. Some logs from seven out of eight pits were dig up and displayed at the tourist attraction, which was developed subsequently. Researches point out that six logs are of the Koompassioxylon
elegans species and two belongs to the Pahudioxylon sp. Species.