Dealul cu Melci, Nature reserve in Alba County, Romania
Dealul cu Melci is a protected nature reserve located in the Vidra area and contains layered rock formations with marine deposits. The exposed sediments display numerous fossilized shells and other remains embedded in sandstone, marl, and conglomerate stone.
The area was once a seabed beneath the ancient Tethys Ocean, which existed between large continents roughly 65 to 70 million years ago. Pressure and geological processes over millions of years transformed those marine deposits into the rock formations visible today.
The place takes its name from the snail fossils that are abundantly preserved in the rock layers and shaped how locals understand the land. Visitors can see these ancient remains exposed in the soil and grasp how this area looked millions of years ago.
Access to the reserve is through Vidra and can easily be paired with visits to nearby sites in the area. Wear suitable footwear and allow time to examine the exposed rock layers and fossils up close.
The site contains more than three dozen different fossilized mollusk species, with the Acteonella genus being the most prevalent. This variety of preserved sea creatures provides insight into the composition of an ancient marine environment.
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