Fossilized Forest of Chemnitz

The earth shakes and a volcano erupts. Ash and dust clouds are hurled into the sky. A massive shockwave spreads out, racing down the slopes and destroying everything in its path. A meter-thick layer of ash buries the fallen trunks and all life beneath it.
Today, 291 million years after this event, we find the petrified trunks and fossil remains of the Permian primeval forest a few meters deep in the Chemnitz soil. The airtight sealing, heat, and pressure preserved the trunks and the surrounding ecosystem. Silica action caused the tree trunks to petrify.
The Petrified Forest of Chemnitz was established by Johann Traugott Sterzel in the late 19th century. Interesting findings were compiled into a lasting natural monument. Once placed in front of the Lechlaschen Villa (Annaberger Straße 44), the Petrified Forest had several locations. It was later moved in front of the west gable and then to the east facade of the König-Albert-Museum on Theaterplatz. Since 2004, this impressive object ensemble has been protected from weathering here in Tietz.
Today, the Petrified Forest consists of 25 trunks, which are over 1.5 m tall. The highest trunk reaches 14.2 m. In total, the trunks weigh about 65 tons. The trunk diameters range from 0.2 to 2.5 m.
You can admire more exciting finds in the Natural History Museum on the 1st floor of this building.
Have fun!

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