A petrified forest was found recently in Jimunai County in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of northwest China.

The forest, covering about 10 square kilometers with various peculiar shapes including animal-like and people-like stones, was formed by water and wind erosion over past thousands of years, according to local geologists.

The unique landscape has been protected and targeted for development by the county government.

(China.org.cn, China Daily February 8, 2007)