Wasson Bluff, Cliff formations near Parrsboro, Canada
Wasson Bluff is a cliff made of red sandstone stretching about 1 mile (1.6 km) along the northern shore of Minas Basin in Nova Scotia. The rock walls contain millions of fossilized bones and clearly display the geological layers that record life from the Triassic-Jurassic period.
The cliff formed roughly 200 million years ago when this region was under tropical conditions and shaped by river deltas. Research that began in 1986 revealed that this location holds some of the oldest records of early dinosaurs and the emergence of mammals.
The site is today a center for research and education, where scientists study fossils and visitors can understand its importance for paleontology. Active excavations show how researchers systematically uncover layers to discover traces of life from this distant past.
Access is through guided tours organized by the nearby Fundy Geological Museum, which provide insight into ongoing excavations. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, as the paths to the cliffs are uneven and rocky, and conditions vary depending on weather.
The smallest known dinosaur footprints in North America come from a bird-sized theropod and are only the size of a coin. These tiny traces show that not only massive creatures populated the earth, but also small, quick predators inhabited this ancient world.
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