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Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Nature & Science
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Cliff and Jean Dickey | Overview of a petrified Sequoia tree and the Florissant Valley |
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Located 35 miles west of Colorado Springs, Florissant Fossil Beds N.M. is a 6,000 acre wonderland of meadows, forests, and wildflowers. At 8,400 feet of elevation, the Monument lies within the montane life zone. Ponderosa Pine, Aspen, Fir, and Spruce are the dominant trees. Wapiti (Elk), mule deer, coyotes, foxes, bears, mountain lions, are some of the large mammals that inhabit the area. Birds of prey scan the meadows for ground squirrels and mice.
Beneath the ground is one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Up to 1700 different species have been described. A majority of those fossils are fragile, detailed compression and impression fossils of insects and plants. The largest fossils are massive, petrified Sequoia trees. These are some of the largest diameter petrified trees in the world.
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| ![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090506182411im_/http://www.nps.gov/commonspot/images/clear.gif) | ![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090506182411im_/http://www.nps.gov/commonspot/images/clear.gif) |
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![Detailed and delicate fossil of a spider showing all its legs and even the hairs on its legs Detailed and delicate fossil of a spider showing all its legs and even the hairs on its legs](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090506182411im_/http://www.nps.gov/imr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/FLFO_spider.jpg) Fossils Learn about the fossils of Florissant through an online museum more... | | ![View of webpage from fossil database View of webpage from fossil database](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090506182411im_/http://www.nps.gov/imr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/FLFO_database_icon.jpg) Paleontology Database Search for museum specimens, taxonomic information, and publication data more... | |
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![illustration of rhinocerous-like mammal illustration of rhinocerous-like mammal](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090506182411im_/http://www.nps.gov/imr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/FLFO_Brontothere-1.jpg) |
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Did You Know?
Fossil remains of a brontothere, a rhinocerous-like creature, have been found in the Florissant fossil beds.
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Last Updated: September 21, 2006 at 09:12 EST |