Wadi al-Hitan
The Wadi al - Hitan (Arabic وادي الحيتان Wādī al - Hitan, DMG Wādī al - Hitan, Whale Valley ') is a dry valley ( wadi ) in the province of al - Fayyum in the west of Egypt. It is since 2005 a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The "Valley of the Whales " is part of the nature reserve Wadi el- Rayan, which has existed since 1989. The protected area covers 1759 km ² and includes the west to the oasis of Fayyum ( southwest of the capital Cairo ) to. Here there are numerous fossil remains of Archaeoceti, an early, extinct suborder of whales. The valley was closed to cars because too many valuable fossil finds were overrun and destroyed.
Geology
Before around 40 million years ago, was here during the Eocene around two million years of the Tethys Ocean. Then lifted tectonic forces to the terrain and the sea was pushed back. The remains of sea creatures were embedded in sediments.
Today, you can discover the fossilized skeletons of primitive whales, shark teeth, shells and corals, and other traces of past marine life in the eight square kilometer site. Also fossilized mangrove roots from that era can be found. These findings allow a reconstruction of the palaeoecology, so the living conditions of that time.
Of particular interest are the whale skeletons - a total of 250 specimens have been discovered so far. These are remnants of the genus Basilosaurus ( "King Six Men "). The first bones of Basilosaurus were found in 1830 in the U.S. and mistaken for the remains of a reptile. The English anatomist Richard Owen realized, however, that it was a mammal and suggested a name change to Zeuglodon ( " Jochzahn "). But after the priority principle is the older name, although " Zeuglodon " is a synonym often used remained. The Wadi al - Hitan is therefore also called " Wadi Zeuglodon ".
Based on these fossils can be the origin of whales from land animals to prove. The fossils are the remains of the hind legs, but already adapted to aquatic life streamline shape.
About a dozen of the best localities of Wal- spine are marked and secured to the left and right of the path marked by ropes. Other bones are buried under earth or rubble hills, which is why neither climb on these accumulations over them should go.
Diplomatic affair
In August 2007, Egyptian authorities accused Belgian diplomats have damaged her SUV one of the skeletons. Claims for compensation in the six figures standing in the room.