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It seems that we, as a country, are obsessed with dinosaurs. And we're definitely obsessed with seeing them on the big screen, as evidenced by the huge success of "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," which grossed $ 150 million on its first weekend in the United States; the film has made more than $ 711 million since it opened abroad earlier this month. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of the film franchise, "Jurassic Park".
Fortunately for us, we do not have to visit a mythical tropical island and far to see dinosaurs, or evidence of them, anyway. There are many places here in the United States to witness evidence of dinosaurs with both eyes.
Arizona
Travel east from the Grand Canyon on Highway 160 and you can spot signs pointing to the dinosaur tracks near the city of Tuba. Although it's a little rudimentary, it's definitely worth stopping and taking a little walk if even to stretch your legs a bit and see dinosaur tracks at the same time.
Elsewhere in Arizona, the Petrified Forest National Park, in the northeastern part of the state, conducts paleontological research and studies fossils from the latter part of the Triassic (there are about 227-205 million or so). ; years). The Petrified Forest Field Institute offers a variety of classes, including Fossil Dig: Discovery and Excavation on August 18, for those who want to go out and find their own fossils.
Colorado
Start your Colorado dinosaur looking in the Dinosaur Ridge near Morrison, which is one of the most famous places in the world for dinosaur fossils. Self guided and guided tours of the excavation sites and fossils are available.
You can see how great the dinosaurs were when you stand in their fossilized footprints in the Picketwire canyons, south of La Junta in the southeastern part of the state. Nearly 1,300 traces of dinosaurs from 100 different animals are among the largest collection of fossilized dinosaur footprints in the country.
And then, of course, there is the National Dinosaur Monument in northwestern Colorado near the Utah border. In addition to the self-guided trails, a visit to the dinosaur quarry inside the visitor center is a must – here you can see fossils of the Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry where about 1500 dinosaur bones are in place in a wall cliff.
Dinosaurs are so much a part of Colorado's history that they have their own state fossil, the stegosaurus, that roamed the region at the end of the Jurassic (there are 155 to 145 million years ago). 39; years).
Montana
The first dinosaur remains of North America were found in Montana in 1854 near Judith Landing in the Missouri River National Monument Breaks, and the first dinosaur bones in North America were found in 1978 near Choteau; Both of these remains are held at Two Medicine Dinosaur Center in Bynum.
More recently, one of the most exciting dinosaur discoveries in Montana has been that of a nearly intact juvenile T. rex fossil that has been unearthed in the Hell Creek formation in the summer latest; "Tuft-Loves Rex", a giant skeleton of T. rex, was found in the same area in 2016.
Dig directly into the history of Montana's dinosaurs in the dig sites found by the Judith River Dinosaur Institute in Billings; The Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station in Malta; Center of two medicine dinosaurs in Bynum; and Dinosaur Digs from Baisch to Glendive.
For more Montana dinosaurs, follow the Montana Dinosaur Trail, a collection of 14 locations around the state to discover more dinosaurs, and even dig for themselves. In addition to some of those mentioned above, stops along the trail include the fossil remains of Makoshika State Park near Glendive, the largest national park in the state and where you can see the fossil remains of Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops and more. Another stop is the Fort Peck Interpretation Center, where you can see an exhibition of Peck's Rex, a life-size cast of T. rex found just 20 miles away.
North Dakota
Dinosaurs once roamed the Badlands of North Dakota, and evidence of their existence can be found in many parts of the state. Start with a visit to the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck, where a comprehensive exhibition covers the paleontological history of the state. It is here too that you can see the mummified hadrosaur of 67 million years ago, a duckbilled dinosaur that was discovered on a ranch in southwestern North Dakota in 1999.
If you are ready to get your hands dirty, join the North Dakota Geological Survey in June, July, and August and dig – you are almost certain to discover fossils. In fact, two Tyrannosaurus rex teeth measuring two and a half inches and four and a half inches were found last August at a dig site south of Bismarck.
For those who want to tour the state in search of dinosaurs, the North Dakota Tourism Division has created a route of 8 stops on the North Dakota Dinosaur Circuit to get the most out of your trip. quest.
South Dakota
In the Black Hills of South Dakota, just 30 minutes north of Deadwood, PaleoAdventures is ready to make your "Jurassic" dreams come true. During the summer months, PaleoAdventures hosts excavations of one, two, three and five days and welcomes all children 10 years and older to participate in family fun to educate participants on paleontology.
Texas
It may be hard to imagine, but the dinosaurs have indeed wandered not far from what is now Fort Worth. Take time out for a walk in the Dinosaur Valley State Park and in the park's five main trail sites, all of which have smaller sites. Within these sites, you may be able to spot traces of Sauropod and theropods. Before your visit, download maps to get the most out of your time.
Wyoming
In Thermopolis, the Wyoming Dinosaur Center is, well, all things dinosaurs. In addition to the museum and its exhibitions, the center hosts excavations for all ages and all levels of interest. All ages can dig a day at sites whose center staff and visitors removed more than 10,000 bones seven days a week until mid-September (weather permitting). Kids ages eight to 12 can really enjoy the Kids & Dig program for a full day of paleontological wonder. Or do you really immerse yourself in a five-day Dinosaur Academy and move from the classroom to the field lab.
Outside the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, visitors to the Glenrock Paleontological Museum can visit the preparation laboratory to see the fossils in preparation, not to mention participating in museum excavations for novices and more experienced fossil hunters.
On the outside of the museums, compare yourself to the Jurassic mid-dinosaurs (aged 160 to 180 million years old) that roamed Wyoming at the Red Gulch Dinosaur site, four miles away. west of Shell. Hundreds of trails were discovered in 1997, and it is believed that there could be thousands more in the 40-acre area.
When a fifth-grade class discovered the bones of a Camarasaurus during an excursion to Alcova, the Cotton Creek dinosaur trail was soon created to guide hikers through the Sundance and Morrison formations, which are known for their fossils.
Remains of Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus rex and Pachycephalosaurus have been found on Bliss Dinosaur Ranch in Weston, and guests are invited to two or three day searches on the 3500-acre ranch. Guided by ranch owner Frank Bliss, who holds a master's degree in geology, anyone who finds teeth or bones on the ranch is welcome at home.
Somewhere else
You can still experience "Jurassic World" at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, where you can meet Blue, one of the film's most popular dinosaurs, in the Raptor Encounter Parks.
Alberta, Canada
There is also plenty to do outside of the United States in North America. You can certainly go full "Jurassic Park" with a visit to the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum in Grand Prairie. What is the link? The museum is named after paleontologist Philip Currie, who inspired Dr. Alan Grant, paleontologist at Jurassic Park. Not only can you see some of the most important dinosaur discoveries in the world within the museum, but also participate in its activities. Palaeontologist For a day program and works side by side with researchers in the field.
Another museum for budding paleontologists to visit is the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology at Drumheller. The museum also features dinosaurs and offers public programs ranging from story time for smaller dinosaur hunters to one – day science camps.
In the Canadian Badlands, home to one of the largest concentrations of fossils in the world, visit Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can observe the work of paleontologists or go on an excursion guided and dig yourself.
Copyright 2017 USATODAY.com
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