Excessive drought reveals 113 million year old dinosaur tracks in Texas state park

GLEN ROSE, TX – New dinosaur tracks were discovered in a Texas state park last week after a year of excessive drought.

The tracks, which date back 113 million years, were discovered at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, southwest of Dallas.

“Most of the tracks that have been recently discovered and discovered at different parts of the river in the park belong to Acrocanthosaurus,” a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife told KSAT. “It was a dinosaur that when fully grown was about 15 feet tall and weighed nearly seven tons. Sauroposeidon, the other species that left tracks, is said to be about 60 feet tall and weigh about 44 tons at the end of its life. ‘adulthood.

The Paluxy River which runs through the park has dried up in several areas exposing the tracks, which are generally underwater and usually filled with sediment. This essentially “bury” the tracks and make them invisible when the river is full of water.

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The exciting discovery will not last long. Heavy rains have recently flooded the area and, according to the park website, all trails are closed.

“With rain in the forecast to come, it is expected that tracks uncovered during the drought will soon be buried again,” the spokesperson said.

However, they noted that burying the tracks under layers of sediment helps protect them from natural weathering and erosion.

“Although these new dinosaur tracks were visible for a short time, it sparked wonder and excitement to find new dinosaur tracks in the park,” TPWD officials said. “As they will soon be reburied by rain and river, Dinosaur Valley State Park will continue to protect these 113 million year old trails, not only for present generations, but for future generations as well. future.”

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