The Joggins Fossil Cliffs, a 689 ha palaeontological site along the
coast of Nova Scotia (eastern Canada), have been described as the “coal
age Galápagos” due to their wealth of fossils from the Carboniferous
period (354 to 290 million years ago). The rocks of this site are
considered to be iconic for this period of the history of Earth and are
the world’s thickest and most comprehensive record of the Pennsylvanian
strata (dating back 318 to 303 million years) with the most complete
known fossil record of terrestrial life from that time. These include
the remains and tracks of very early animals and the rainforest in which
they lived, left in situ, intact and undisturbed. With its 14.7 km of
sea cliffs, low bluffs, rock platforms and beach, the site groups
remains of three ecosystems: estuarine bay, floodplain rainforest and
fire prone forested alluvial plain with freshwater pools. It offers the
richest assemblage known of the fossil life in these three ecosystems
with 96 genera and 148 species of fossils and 20 footprint groups. The
site is listed as containing outstanding examples representing major
stages in the history of Earth.
 |
| Joggins Fossil Cliffs |
 |
| Joggins Fossil Cliffs |
 |
| Joggins Fossil Cliffs |
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen