Dinosaur Provincial Park Canada Travel Guide
Wind and water carved this landscape over vast sections of time. It sculpted deep coulees, towering hoodoos, and vast plains. The park spans 73.25 square kilometers (28.28 sq mi), a small area with much paleontological wealth.
The badlands landscape is a geological marvel. Soft sedimentary rock layers, millions of years old, show clear bands of different colors. Wind and water continue to sculpt these formations, uncovering new fossils each season.
This diversity supports not only ancient fossil remains but also various present-day wildlife. These animals adapt to the arid surroundings and the riverine habitat.
Dinosaur Provincial Park holds an unparalleled position in scientific history. UNESCO recognized its global value in 1979. The park is famous for its outstanding fossil record, a reputation it gained through decades of dedicated paleontological work.
Researchers uncovered more than 50 dinosaur species here. Tens of thousands of specimens, including complete skeletons, skull fragments, and individual bones, came from these badlands. These findings offer an exceptional glimpse into the Late Cretaceous period, around 75 to 77 million years ago, just before the extinction of the dinosaurs.
A greater variety than any other Late Cretaceous site.
Includes complete skeletons and individual bones.
A peek into life 75 to 77 million years ago.
Rapid burial protected even delicate bones.
Erosion continues to bring new fossils to light.
Discoveries at the park reshaped our knowledge of dinosaur biology, behavior, and evolution. This location ranks as one of the richest fossil fields globally. It yields a greater diversity of dinosaur species from the Late Cretaceous than any other place on Earth.
Early fossil hunters, including Joseph Burr Tyrrell, began making significant finds in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their initial discoveries brought the world's notice to this remote area of Alberta.
The historical significance extends beyond just dinosaurs. The site also brings to light fossils of ancient plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and early mammals, painting a detailed picture of the complete Late Cretaceous ecosystem.
The park is a living laboratory, continually uncovering new facts about Earth''s distant history.
Dinosaur Provincial Park provides an extraordinary journey through time, placing visitors directly into a vista that once teemed with prehistoric life. This unique destination sits near Brooks in southeastern Alberta, Canada.
The park's most distinctive feature is its striking badlands terrain. Wind and water sculpted this landscape over millions of years, fashioning a maze of coulees, hoodoos, and eroded hills. These formations unveil ancient rock layers and, most importantly, an unparalleled abundance of dinosaur fossils.
Park is a World Heritage Site on account of its extraordinary paleontological value.
The world's richest dinosaur fossil site with over 50 species unearthed.
Guided fossil tours, hiking, wildlife viewing, and photography await.
The landscape in the park's boundaries has a vivid mix of features. Badlands, together with their intricate patterns and exposed geological layers, dominate the scenery. Deep coulees cut through the terrain, offering pathways for exploration.
