Dinosaur Valley State Park

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The Dinosaur Valley State Park is a state park west of Glen Rose in Somervell County, Texas (USA). In the park fossilized dinosaur footprints from the time of the Lower Cretaceous are preserved in sedimentary rocks in the river bed of the Paluxy River. They were discovered in 1930 by paleontologist Roland T. Bird. The best observation opportunities are available in late summer because this time of year the water level is relatively low and the prints are partly dry. The land for the park was purchased in 1968 and 1972, the Dinosaur Valley State Park was opened with an area of ​​738 ha. In 1968 the site was registered as a National Natural Landmark.

According to the most prevalent view of the tracks before 113 million years on a giant tidal platform or lagoon formed at the edge of a flat ocean. The Paluxy River has eroded the rock so that the fossil traces of dinosaurs have been excavated in the limestone and sandstone layers. There are three-toed tracks with imprints of sharp claws that come from theropods, bipedal ( two-legged ), meat -eating dinosaurs. These can be attributed to the more than 11 meters long Acrocanthosaurus, whose fossil skeletal remains were found in the vicinity. Significantly larger, roundish tracks come from four-legged herbivorous sauropods. As their most probable cause applies Pleurocoelus, the state dinosaur of Texas. This run up to 12 tracks in parallel, which allows conclusions to a social life in herds.

Two life-size dinosaur models made ​​of fiberglass are exhibited in the park in the open air, a Tyrannosaurus rex and Apatosaurus (formerly Bronstosaurus ). Both copies were originally "World's Fair Dinosaur Exhibit New York " made ​​for 1964.