Miguasha National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parc national de Miguasha |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
|
|
Cliff of the Miguasha National Park
|
|
 Parc national de Miguasha
Location in Quebec
Parc national de Miguasha
Location in Canada
|
|
| Location | Nouvelle, Avignon Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada |
| Nearest city | Dalhousie, New Brunswick |
| Area | 87,3 ha |
| Established | 6 February 1985 |
| Governing body | SEPAQ |
| Type: | Natural |
| Criteria: | viii |
| Designated: | 1999 (23rd session) |
| Reference #: | 686rev |
| State Party: |  Canada |
| Region: | Europe and North America |
Miguasha National Park (which is Parc national de Miguasha in French) is a special protected area in Quebec, Canada. It is located near a town called Carleton-sur-Mer on the Gaspé Peninsula.
This park was created in 1985 by the Government of Quebec. In 1999, it became a World Heritage Site. This means it's recognized globally for being very important. Miguasha is famous for its amazing collection of fossils. These fossils show us a crucial time in the evolution of life on Earth.
People sometimes call this place by other names. These include the Miguasha Fossil Site or the Bay of Escuminac Fossil Site. You might also hear it called the Upper Devonian Escuminac Formation or the Hugh-Miller Cliffs. Sometimes, fossil specimens from here are labeled 'Scaumenac Bay'.
Contents
Discovering Miguasha's Past
Miguasha National Park is like a giant outdoor history book. It helps us understand what life was like millions of years ago. The park is especially important for studying fish from the Devonian Period.
The Miguasha Museum
The park has a museum where you can see many of the fossils found here. It teaches visitors about paleontology, which is the study of ancient life. The museum has over 9,000 fossil specimens. These include ancient fish and plants.
What Are the Rocks Made Of?
The cliffs along the coast are made of sedimentary rock. This rock formed from layers of mud and sand that hardened over millions of years. These rocks are from the Devonian Period, specifically the Upper Devonian. They are part of something called the Escuminac Formation.
The rocks are a mix of sandstone and shale. They are between 350 and 375 million years old! Today, the area around the cliffs has forests with birch, aspen, and fir trees.
Why Miguasha Fossils Are Special
Miguasha National Park is considered one of the best places in the world to find fossils from the Devonian Period. This time is often called the 'Age of Fishes'.
Ancient Fish and Plants
You can find fossils of five out of the six main groups of fish from this period here. These fossils are about 370 million years old. Many very well-preserved fossils of lobe-finned fish have been found. These fish are important because they are thought to be the ancestors of tetrapods. Tetrapods were the first four-legged animals that could breathe air and live on land.
Some plant fossils found at Miguasha are also very rare and ancient. For example, Spermasposita is believed to be one of the oldest types of flowering plants ever found.
The Park's History
The amazing fossil site at Miguasha was first discovered in 1842. A geologist and doctor named Abraham Gesner found it. He was also a pioneer in the petroleum industry.
Early Discoveries
Gesner found many important fossils. These discoveries caused great excitement around the world. Many of his finds were sent to the British Museum and the Royal Scottish Museum.
In the 1970s, there were rumors that some people wanted to buy the land with the fossils. To protect this important site, the Québec government stepped in. In 1985, they bought a large part of the land. They then declared it a provincial park, which they call a "national" park in Québec.
Protecting the Site
About 100 people own the land around the park. They help protect the area by limiting new buildings. This keeps the site safe for future discoveries. So far, over 5,000 fossils from Miguasha have been identified and studied. The park was officially named a World Heritage Site in 1999.
Images for kids
-
Cliff of the Miguasha National Park
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional de Miguasha para niños
