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Fossil Butte National Monument is a paleontological site is located in Lincoln County, in southwestern Wyoming. As its name suggests, this is a place with a rich collection of fossils. In fact it has the best paleontological record of Tertiary aquatic communities, in North America and possibly the world. The fossils are located mostly in the Green River lake beds, which holds sediments from 50 million years ago.
The fossils of Fossil Butte National Monument preserves various animals including fish, reptiles, mammals and insects, many of which of species not seen today. They provide an idea that the site had a different climate, possibly subtropical, over a period of 2 million years.
Fossil at Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming
Author: NPS-Photo (public domain)
The fossils were first discovered in the late 19th century by coal miners. At that time, miners simply dug up the fossils to sell to casual collectors. Today commercial fossil collecting is now forbidden within the national monument, but the enterprise continues on private land around the park area, producing specimens for both museums and private collectors.
Visiting Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming
Fossil Butte National Monument is located 15 miles west of Kemmerer, in Lincoln County, Wyoming. Take Interstate 80, turning off at Exit 18 to head north for app. 80 miles on US Highway 189. Just outside Kemmerer, turn left to US Highway 30 heading west, and follow signage to the visitor center.
Beaver dam at Fossil Butte National Monument
Author: Maveric149 (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
The Fossil Butte National Monument visitor center is open daily. Opening hours ranges from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm from 1 May through 30 September, to 8:00 am to 4:30 pm from 1 October through 30 April. It is closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days. The park does not charge an entrance fee but donations are welcome.
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