Indian Springs Trace Fossil Natural Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian Springs Trace Fossil Natural Area |
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| Location | Fremont County, Colorado, USA |
| Designated: | 1980 |
The Indian Springs Trace Fossil Natural Area is a special place in Fremont County, Colorado. It's a 40-acre site on the Indian Springs Ranch. In 1980, it was named a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very important natural spot in the USA.
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What Are Trace Fossils?
This area is famous for its amazing trace fossils. A trace fossil isn't the actual body of an animal. Instead, it's a sign or mark left behind by an animal. Think of it like a footprint in the mud that turned into rock over millions of years!
Ancient Animal Tracks
At Indian Springs, you can see tracks from animals that lived about 450 million years ago. Imagine that! These animals included horseshoe crabs, brachiopods (shellfish), trilobites (ancient sea creatures), and even armor-plated fish. They left their marks in what used to be a muddy lagoon.
A Window to the Past
These fossils show how these ancient creatures moved. You can see where they walked, swam, and burrowed in the mud. Scientists believe this is the best place in North America to see such clear signs of ancient animal movement. The fossils are found in a type of rock called the Harding Formation.
Visiting the Natural Area
The Indian Springs Trace Fossil Natural Area is located along the Gold Belt Byway. It's part of the Indian Springs Campground. The owners of the ranch offer tours of this incredible fossil site. It's a great way to learn about Earth's ancient past!
Protecting Our Past
The National Park Service helps protect many fossil sites across the country. These sites save different kinds of fossils, like trace fossils, plant fossils, and even bones of ancient animals. They are protected so we can learn from them and study them. Other famous fossil sites in Colorado include the Dinosaur National Monument and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
Colorado's Natural Treasures
The Indian Springs Trace Fossil Natural Area is also part of the Colorado Natural Areas Program. This program protects special places in Colorado. There are 25 different kinds of trace fossils here, all from the Ordovician Period. This was a time when life in the oceans was really booming!
Colorado has 93 designated natural areas. These places help protect over 250 types of rare, endangered, or threatened plants and animals.
