Motolský ordovik, Natural monument near Motol Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
Motolský ordovik is a natural monument in Prague displaying ancient shale layers from the Ordovician period along a railway cut between two stations. The exposed rock face reveals stacked geological formations that mark different chapters in Earth's ancient past.
The site received protected status in 1988 and preserves a window into Earth's history from about 485 to 443 million years ago. Railway construction in the 1800s had accidentally exposed these rock layers, revealing what lay hidden in the ground.
The rock layers contain visible fossils of ancient sea creatures like trilobites and brachiopods that lived here hundreds of millions of years ago. Visitors can observe these preserved remains directly in the stone and grasp how this place was once covered by ocean.
The site sits next to an active railway line between two stations and is best viewed from outside the rail corridor. Access can be restricted at times, so it is wise to check current conditions before planning a visit to this location.
The rock wall displays two distinct geological formations whose boundary marks the exact dividing line between two ancient time periods. This sharp boundary layer is visible and helps geologists trace the evolution of life across vast stretches of time.
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