The petrified forest in Lesvos

The village of Sigri is located approximately 90 kilometres from Mytilini and about 55 kilometres from Molyvos. As far west as you can get on Lesvos. A few kilometres before reaching Sigri, one can make a detour to one of the most overrated attractions I have visited - the petrified forest. The road leading to the petrified forest goes through an extremely barren landscape, it looks like on the planet of Mars, not particularly beautiful in other words, but quite cool.

The landscape where the petrified forest of Lesbos is located looks like the planet Mars.

Two of the trees in the petrified forest.

The petrified forest is unique in Europe, the fact is that there is only one other similar place on our planet and it is located in Arizona, USA. For many years ago there were active volcanoes on Lesvos, it is believed that it was one of these volcanoes' eruption that created the petrified forest. At that time, all kinds of trees grew here, including palm trees, plane trees and pine trees.

One of the longest trees found in the area.

After one of the volcanic eruptions, the area was covered with lava, some kind of chemical reaction caused the trees to fossilize under the lava. Eventually, some of the trees were discovered and these are the ones you can study now. There are lots of trees left that have not yet been digged out. The age of the petrified forest is estimated at approximately 20 million years.

Some of the "trees" in the petrified forest.

To walk around in the burning sun (there is no shadow) and look at petrified trees is - in my opinion - not worth the trip here. And it is definitely not a forest, rather stumps, and if I were to decide, I would have renamed the place to the petrified desert.

There are hiking trails in the "Petrified Forest", but there is no shade.

There is a cafe at the parking lot.

One of the few places where you can seek protection from the sun.

As you can see, I'm a bit negative when I write about the petrified forest, and that's mostly because I react to the word forest, because there really isn't any forest. I don't think I've ever been so disappointed in an attraction in Greece as the petrified forest. But if I disregard the choice of words, I am impressed by the very old "trees".

The age of the trees in the petrified forest is estimated to be around 20 million years.

It is fascinating to still be able to see the annual rings on the trees.

If you want to visit the stumps, it's open between 08.30-16.30 every day. Bring a lot of water! If you are very interested in the subject, I can recommend a visit to the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest located in Sigri.

The entrance to the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest in Sigri.

One of the petrified trees in the museum.

WHAT YOU MUST NOT MISS WHEN YOU ARE IN THE AREA

Don't miss the village at the end of the road, which you can read about here »

READ MORE ABOUT LESVOS