Meteor Crator, Petrified Forest & Painted Desert

On the way to Flagstaff, we came across the Meteor Crater, Petrified Forest, and Painted Desert. The meteor crater is the best preserved crater on the planet, and is 2.4 miles in circumference, and over 550 feet deep. Some years ago, four airline pilots rented a plane and flew to the crater. They decided to circle inside it, and due to the heat, and elevation, they were unable to fly out of it. When they ran out of fuel, they made a controlled crash in the bottom and a wing has been left there to remind anyone else not to try it!
Since we had seen all three places on a trip made in 2002, we spent some time at the Petrified Forest, but skipped the Meteor Crater and the Painted Desert this time to get on with the trip. I did locate some photos of the crater and the Painted Desert from the last trip and included them with this trip's photos at: www.picasaweb.google.com/kenheise According to a Ranger, the Petrified Forest once had hundreds of acres of petrified trees in various forms, but before the area became protected, people carried them off in truck and even train car loads. They were a popular yard decoration in the early twentieth century, especially among the rich. There are still plenty to see if you ever get in the area. At one time the petrified forests were covered with dirt, or more likely with sea water which allowed silt and minerals to settle and replace the wood as it decomposed. (There are other petrified forests, but the one in Arizona is the largest.)