Souvenirs from the Past

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Erstellt am Donnerstag, 12. Mai 2011 05:12

Veröffentlicht am Donnerstag, 12. Mai 2011 05:12

Geschrieben von Abe Connally

There are many good reasons to go to Big Bend National Park. Among the most common are to enjoy the peace and beauty of nature, spend quality time with family and friend, relax and forget about the troubles of life in civilization, or to take yourself to the extreme with awesome hiking, climbing, and dirt biking. But a less talked about reason for coming down to the park this summer involves the prehistoric past.

Mother Earth is an old gal, and she’s been supporting life long before the first cave-man invented the wheel. The prehistoric reptiles that once roamed the land and the plants that provided their surroundings can still be seen through the fossils they left behind in the very ground we tread. Big Bend is home to quite a number of such fossils. In fact, hundreds of species have been found imprinted in rocks, whether they be dinosaurs, plants, frogs, fish, crocodiles, and some early mammals. Put all that together and you have a pretty complete portrait of the prehistoric environment of the area.

Some of the most famous discoveries in Big Bend were what are known today as the super-crocs. Giant crocodile skeletons have been found in the Aguja Formation. These are some of the biggest croc remains ever found, including some individuals that may have been up to 40-50 feet long. Imagine that monster on your next hiking trip! One of such specimens is on display in the Dallas Museum of Natural History.

Whether it’s one of the 90 dinosaur species or a leaf imprint in the rock of a canyon, Big Bend is home to many of natures little souvenirs from the distant past. Who knows? You may be hiking and accidentally stumble upon a new fossil and discover a species of you own! Remember, though, you absolutely can’t pick up fossils and take them home. In fact, it’s against the law to collect any kind of fossil or rock from Big Bend National Park. But that should stop you from enjoying the experience!

Come and See for Yourself

So if you like the idea of exploring the prehistoric past, or if you just want to enjoy the normal, modern nature, you should definitely do so this summer. Why? Because we have some awesome discounts available for you, and you won’t want to miss them.