Petrified Sea Gardens

[morea]

Neuro and I visited Petrified Sea Gardens (www.petrifiedseagardens.org) in Saratoga, NY today... it is a fossil ocean reef estimated to be over 500 million years old.

The fossils were made by cyanobacteria (bluegreen algae), which formed in mounds but have eroded revealing the inner structure.

Some fossils:

http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647fossil1.jpg


http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647fossil2.jpg


http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647fossil3.jpg

[morea]

This one made me think of D-Zine because it looks kind of like a butterfly. :)

http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647fossil5.jpg

[morea]

Glacial potholes - waterfalls of melt-water would pouroff the slow-moving glaciers and wear holes in the layer of rock... smaller pieces of rock helped the process, but sometimes a large boulder would be wedged in the stream of water and be worn smooth while making the hole rounder.

http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647pothole-med.jpg

[morea]

this stone 'lion' was created from a large piece of fossilized rock in the 1920's.

http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647lion.jpg

[morea]

Solution channels - The crevices in the fossil reef are what led to its discovery in 1923 when a grazing cow fell and got stuck in one.

These crevices are the result of melting glaciers. Rushing melt-water would seek the path of least resistance and follow cracks in the rock, widening them over time.

http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647CRACK-med.jpg

[morea]

Glacial erratics - slow moving glaciers carried rocks and boulders great distances and dropped them in another place... there were three large formations in the park, which also extend deep underground. The largest formation is estimated to weigh over 200 tons!

http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647rocks.jpg


http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647rocks3.jpg


http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647rocks2.jpg

[morea]

Glacial erratics are often called "Indian Stones". This one (below) is believed to have a history in Native American use. It is oriented to the sunrise at solstice, and there appears to be an altar within the formation.

http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647altar2.jpg

[flutterby nut]

there's your texture entry...lol!

[morea]

lots of textures to choose from! :p

[morea]

these shots were taken in an area called "the grotto". The layers of limestone are visible in the wall where the earth has "slipped" away.


http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647grotto.jpg


http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647grotto2.jpg


http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647grottotrees.jpg

[morea]

This 'Iriquois' White Pine has been growing in the park since 1700.

Of course, my first instinct was to flop down on the ground and try to get the whole height of the thing in a perspective shot... the tree was too big, and I stood up covered in pine pitch. Eew!

http://thecreativeforum.com/photopost/data/500/647pine.jpg

[Tyger]

these make some interestinf shots morea, i bet you had a field day there. nice job!

[Neuro]

Yeah, we did. It was a beautiful day and a lot of fun to just wonder. We also had a special tour guide that was a beautiful yellow lab. He was funny. He kept hanging around and then showing us where to go next. Turned out to be one of the neighbors dog.

Was a lot of fun. Very relaxing after a crazy week!