Friday, August 4, 2017

Makoshika State Park

We visited part of the Montana Dinosaur Trail in Makoshika State Park. Located in Glendive Montana, the park is a fascinating geological wonder.

Long before the dinosaurs roamed Montana this area was an ocean floor between two tectonic plates that eventually collided to form the North American continent. Because of that, the park is littered with oceanic fossils. Just about every rock you pick up has a scallop shell fossil embedded in it.
As the plates moved together the earth’s crust rose, creating a wet tropical climate where Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex flourished. While most of the fossilized bones are in universities and more prestigious museums, some of the local dinosaur remains are on display in the nice and compelling visitor center.
An ice age descended on this area after the dinosaurs became extinct. Therefore, glacial carving exists, as well as gulleys created by the water from the glaciers as they melted. The effects are multicolored gulch walls and well-balanced cap rocks. While being August and really too hot to hike, we managed to get out early in the morning and get up close and personal with the geology. What a treat!
Talk to you soon!

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