The Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park inward Nevada , U.S. , is 2 attractions inward one. First , at that spot are ichthyosaur fossils , together with 2d , it preserves a turn-of-the-20th century mining town called Berlin.
The ichthyosaurs were prehistoric marine reptiles that demeanour striking similarity inward torso shape to the dolphin together with to fast predatory fish similar tuna , although they are related to neither. They ranged betwixt 2 to over 50 feet inward length , together with were some of the nigh highly specialized reptile e'er to accept lived on earth. The ichthyosaur breathed air , gave nascency to their immature travel , together with had amazingly large eyes inward relation to the residuum of the body. They were peculiarly abundant inward the afterward Triassic together with early on Jurassic Period , together with were the operate past times aquatic predators of that time. Ichthyosaurs became extinct inward the Late Cretaceous menstruum for unknown reasons.
Tour guides are hither together with willing to plow over valuable information. Photo credit: 3DeyeNET/Wikimedia
Ichthyosaurs fossils were get-go discovered inward the early on 19th century past times the legendary fossil collector Mary Anning , when she was only twelve years erstwhile , together with her blood brother Joseph.
Ichthyosaur fossils were discovered inward Nevada inward 1928. Excavations conducted through the 1960s , accept unearthed the remains of unopen to twoscore ichthyosaurs including the largest ichthyosaurs e'er discovered , dubbed Shonisaurus popularis after the Shoshone mount range. Several specimens were left where they were found together with tin travel viewed past times the public.
About 10-minutes get away from these specimens is the ghost town of Berlin. It was established inward 1897 when substantial aureate veins were discovered nearby. Unfortunately , the town never prospered to the same extent every bit other nail towns inward the area. It produced less than $1 1000000 worth of aureate together with silvery during its brusque lifetime of 14 years. The town was abandoned soon afterwards.
The town was acquired past times the soil of Nevada every bit component of Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park inward 1970. There are many preserved buildings including the mine supervisor's household , immediately the common component , the seek component , a automobile store , together with the ore mill.
Photo credit: Alisha Vargas/Flickr
Photo credit: Don Barrett/Flickr
Photo credit: Don Barrett/Flickr
Photo credit: Don Barrett/Flickr