After ten years of research, scientists "reappeared" a Pompeii-like, 298-million-year-old tropical forest on Tuesday located in the northwest corner of Helan mountain in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region.

Using the fossils of leaves found in the area, scientists presented a 3D recreation of the prehistoric forest.

The 20 square kilometers "fossilized forest" was preserved in ash when a volcano erupted and because volcanic ash covered a large expanse of forest over the course of only a few days, the plants were preserved as they fell.

Using the fossils of leaves found in the area, scientists presented a 3D recreation of the prehistoric forest.

The research also helps understand contemporary climate variations.