Lagosteiros Natural Monument, Nature reserve and geological site near Cape Espichel, Portugal
Lagosteiros Natural Monument is a protected site on the cliffs near Cape Espichel featuring limestone layers with fossilized dinosaur footprints. Several sets of tracks from different species are visible in the rock strata, offering a window into prehistoric animal movement.
The site contains footprints left by dinosaurs roughly 130 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period. Tectonic forces later tilted these limestone layers at steep angles, transforming them into a geological record of deep time.
Scientists and researchers regularly study the dinosaur tracks at Lagosteiros to understand the behavioral patterns and movements of prehistoric creatures in this region.
A marked path from Cape Espichel leads visitors to the site, with afternoon light providing the best conditions to see the fossilized tracks clearly. Sturdy footwear and careful footing on the tilted rock surfaces are recommended for safety.
The limestone beds containing the tracks have been tilted to 45 degrees by tectonic activity, making them remarkable among similar fossil sites worldwide. This steep angle allows visitors to view the footprints almost vertically, as if inscribed on a wall.
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