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In some ways, this park is two separate experiences a look at the lost world
of dinasaurs on the side, and a scenic wonderland of colourjul rock, deep
river canyons, and a forest of Douglas fir on the other. About 150 million
years ago, the region was a lush land of ferns, conifers, grasses, ponds and
rivers. This made it a suitable habitat for dinasaurs, including vegetarians
such as Deplodocuse Apatogaurs, and Stegosauras and sharo - toothed
carnivors, such as Allosaurus that hunted their vegetarian cousins. When
these huge creatures died, most of their skeletons decayed and disappeared
but in at least one spot, flood waters washed dinosaur carcasses into the
bottom of a river. Here they were preserved in sand and covered with
sediment, creating a sort of time capsule for today's visitor the largest
quarry of Jurassic - period dinasaur, bones ever discovered. But visitors
who limit their trip to the Dinasaur quarry, fascinating as it is, miss
quite a bit. Encompassing 325 Sq miles of stark canyons at the confluence of
two rivers, the monument also offers hiking trails, pioneer homesteads,
thousand year old rock art, spectacular panoramic vistas, great wildlife -
watching.Opportunities and the thrills of white water raffing. The Yampa,
Green and smaller rivers bring life giving water in to the area, creating
microclimates that support hanging gardens of mosses and ferns, cotton
woods, and even an occasional Douglus fir - all just yards from the
predominant landscape of sagebrush, cactus, and dwarted pirion and Juniper
trees. |
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