>Valenciano at 18:32, 9 July 2020

2020-07-09T18:32:14Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox park
| name =Akal Wood Fossil Park
| photo =
| photo_width =
| photo_caption =
| map = India Rajasthan
| map_width =
| type = [[Fossil park]]
| location = [[Akal (village)|Akal]],
[[Jaisalmer district]], [[Rajasthan]], India
| nearest_city = [[Jaisalmer]]
| coords = {{coord|26|49|30|N|71|02|24|E|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref =<ref name=intach>{{cite web|last=Ranawat|first=Pushpendra Singh|title=A Monograph on National Geoheritage Monuments of India|url=http://naturalheritage.intach.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Geoheritage-Monograph.pdf|publisher=Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage|pages=91–93|date=March 2016}}</ref>
| area = {{convert|21|ha}}
| elevation = 247 m above [[mean sea level]]
| created =
| operator =
| visitation_num =
| status =
| open =
}}

'''Akal Wood Fossil Park''' is a [[List of National Geological Monuments in India|National Geological Monument of India]] located in [[Jaisalmer district]], [[Rajasthan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Geo-Heritage Sites|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=137573|website=Press Information Bureau|publisher=Ministry of Mines, Government of India|accessdate=22 June 2017}}</ref> It is also a [[Biodiversity Heritage Site]].

It is 21 [[hectare]]s in extent and is located in Akal village, 17–18 km from [[Jaisalmer]] city, and 1 km off the Jaisalmer-Barmer road, on a stretch of about 10 km<sup>2</sup> of bare hillside.<ref name=jai/> The terrain is barren and rocky.

The park lies in Jaisalmer's fossil belt, a region noted to have the potential for geological parks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaisalmer has potential for geological parks|last=Bhatia|first=Vimal|url=http://timesofindia.com/city/jaipur/jaisalmer-has-potential-for-geological-parks/articleshow/56063945.cms|publisher=Times of India|date=19 December 2016}}</ref> Fossils and footprints of [[pterosaur]]s have been found in the nearby Thaiyat area.<ref name=flyingdino/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/city/jaipur/Pterosaurs-footprints-found-in-Jaisalmer-basin/articleshow/28719811.cms|title=Pterosaurs footprints found in Jaisalmer basin|last=Bhatia|first=Vimal|date=13 January 2014|publisher=Times of India|access-date=2018-01-11}}</ref>

The park contains fossils of [[petrophyllum]], [[ptyllophyllum]], [[equisetitis]] species and dicotyledonous wood and [[gastropod shell]]s of the [[Early Jurassic]] period. There are about a dozen [[fossilised wood]] logs lying horizontally oriented in random directions, the largest of which is 13.4 m in length and 0.9 m in width.<ref name=gsi>{{cite web|title=Fossil Wood Parks|url=http://www.portal.gsi.gov.in/portal/page?_pageid=127,529552&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL|publisher=Geological Survey of India|accessdate=21 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013102730/http://www.portal.gsi.gov.in/portal/page?_pageid=127%2C529552&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL|archive-date=13 October 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> There are a total of 25 [[petrified tree]] trunks. The fossils date back 180 million years.<ref name=jai>{{cite web|title=Wood Fossil Park Jaisalmer|url=http://www.jaisalmer.org.uk/excursions/fossil-park.html|website=Jaisalmer.org.uk|accessdate=21 June 2017}}</ref>

The [[Geological Survey of India]] (GSI) declared the site a National Geological Monument in 1972. The park was maintained by GSI till 1985, when maintenance was handed over to the Forest Department of [[Government of Rajasthan]]. Now, the park is maintained by the authorities of the [[Desert National Park]]. The exposed tree trunks have been protected by iron grill cages with tin sheet roofing.<ref name=intach/>

==Geology==

The fossils are considered to be of non-flowering trees such as [[Chir pine|Chir]], [[Cedrus deodara|Deodar]] and [[Redwood]], as only non-flowering plants ([[gymnosperm]]s) existed during the geological time when the fossilization took place.<ref name=rdv/>

The petrified wood is indicative of lush forests in a tropical warm and humid climate thriving 180 million years ago.<ref name=gsi/> Existence of fossils of gastropod shells also suggest that the region was a sea once upon a time. The claim is furthered by the fossils of stems of [[gymnosperm]]s and [[fluviatile]] sediments and deposits.<ref name=dh>{{cite web|author=Tabeenah Anjum|title=Fossil park to get a new look|url=http://deccanherald.com/articles.php?name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Fcontent%2F610206%2Ffossil-park-get-look.html|publisher=Deccan Herald|date=6 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The wood fossils have given evidence that the area has been under the sea on four occasions.<ref name=rdv>{{cite web|title=Akal Wood Fossil Park in Rajasthan, India|url=http://www.royaldesertview.com/wood-fossil.html|publisher=Royal Desert View Resort|accessdate=22 June 2017}}</ref> However, the host rocks of the wood fossils have been considered continental (non-marine).<ref name=flyingdino>{{cite web|author=Vimal Bhatia|title=Deep sea evidence, flying dinosaur fossils found in Jaisalmer|url=http://timesofindia.com/home/science/Deep-sea-evidence-flying-dinosaur-fossils-found-in-Jaisalmer/articleshow/29378574.cms|publisher=Times of India|date=26 January 2014}}</ref>

After the tree trunks were buried and petrified, geological activities are supposed to have occurred causing the shifting and upheaval of the basin, bringing the fossils to the surface. In addition to the exposed ones, there are more wood fossils lying beneath the surface. Evidence of fruits have also been found.<ref name=rdv/>

==Visiting==
The park is open to visitors throughout the week from 9 am to 6 pm.<ref name=dh/> A nominal entrance fee is charged.<ref name=intach/> There is a small museum near the entrance which showcases photographs of fossils along with brief descriptions.<ref name=dh/>

In 2017, the government of Rajasthan earmarked Rs 10.9 crore to turn the park into an international geographical heritage site, with Rs 5 crore proposed for modernising the park. Apart from tourism, there is also a focus on attracting researchers.<ref name=dh/><ref>{{cite web|title=Rs 10 crore facelift for Jaisalmer fossil park|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/rs-10-cr-facelift-for-jaisalmer-fossil-park/articleshow/58406907.cms|publisher=Times of India|date=28 April 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Desert National Park]]
*[[National Fossil Wood Park, Tiruvakkarai]]
*[[National Fossil Wood Park, Sathanur]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:National Geological Monuments in India]]
[[Category:Fossil parks in India]]
[[Category:Mesozoic paleontological sites of Asia]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Jaisalmer district]]
[[Category:Biodiversity Heritage Sites of India]]

Akal Wood Fossil Park - Revision history

>Valenciano at 18:32, 9 July 2020