Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio facts for kids
| MEF | |
MEF building
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| Established | December 1990 |
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| Location | Trelew, Patagonia (Argentina) |
| Collection size | More than 17,000 fossils |
| Visitors | 70,000 (yearly average, last 5 years) |
The Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio (MEF) is a cool science museum and research center in Trelew, Patagonia, Argentina. It's a place where you can explore the ancient past of Patagonia. The museum shows off amazing fossils of plants and animals that lived here long ago. It also teaches about how the region has changed over millions of years. The museum is named after a famous geologist, Egidio Feruglio.
MEF is one of Argentina's most important science places. It has strong research programs that study ancient life. This includes looking at fossils of animals with backbones, animals without backbones, and even ancient plants. They also study ichnology, which is the study of fossil tracks and traces.
Contents
Discover the MEF Exhibitions
MEF's main exhibition takes you on an exciting trip through Patagonia's natural history. It starts about 10,000 years ago, when the first humans arrived. As you walk through the rooms, you'll see fossils from both land and sea creatures from different time periods. You'll travel all the way back to the early Paleozoic Era.
Giant Dinosaurs of Patagonia
The Mesozoic hall is super popular! Here, you'll find huge dinosaurs that once roamed Patagonia. It's one of the museum's biggest attractions. After exploring the dinosaur hall, you can visit a mini-theater. There, a film shows how the Universe evolved, all the way back to the Big Bang.
See Fossils Being Prepared
The exhibition also lets you peek into MEF's special lab. This is where scientists carefully clean fossils and remove them from the rocks. You can watch real work happening on the newest fossil discoveries!
Watch a Dinosaur Movie
You can also watch "The Mystery of the Jurassic" daily in the "Germán Sopeña" Auditorium. This movie was made by the BBC and features scientists from MEF.
Traveling Dinosaur Shows
MEF has a traveling exhibition called "Dinosaurs of Patagonia." It has visited many cities in Argentina and even other countries. Recently, it toured Europe, going to Germany, Spain, Portugal, and the Czech Republic. The museum also shares copies of its exhibits with other museums around the world.
Explore Bryn Gwyn Geopark
MEF also manages the Bryn Gwyn Geopark. This is a large natural area that protects important geological sites. It's located about 8 kilometers south of Gaiman and 25 kilometers from Trelew. The park sits on slanted land between the Chubut River valley and the higher Patagonian steppe. On its trails, you can see real fossils and copies of fossils that are up to 40 million years old!
Amazing Fossil Discoveries
MEF is a top research center. Most of its scientists are part of Argentina's National Research Council (CONICET). This shows how important their work is.
The museum has a huge collection of fossils. In 2009, it had more than 17,000 fossils! It also has a lab for preparing fossils and special equipment for field trips. There's even a workshop where they make copies of fossils. These copies are used for research and for the museum's exhibitions.
Finding the Biggest Dinosaur
In 2014, a team of paleontologists from MEF made an incredible discovery in Patagonia. They dug up the remains of seven giant titanosaur dinosaurs! These were Patagotitan mayorum, the largest dinosaur ever found. A copy of a 37-meter-long skeleton of this dinosaur, made by the museum, is now on display in the Natural History Museum in London, England.
Fun Educational Programs
The Museum has many activities for families, schools, and the community. Here are some cool examples:
- Open House: The museum offers free entry and special activities during one weekend in June.
- Paleodesafío: This is a fun competition about Paleontology, Geology, and Astronomy for high school students in the Chubut province.
- Explorers in Pyjamas: Kids get to spend the night at the museum! They play games, learn, and then sleep among the dinosaurs in the exhibition.
- Café Scientifique: You can enjoy a cup of coffee and have an informal chat with a scientist.
MEF scientists also visit schools. They help teachers and students with science projects. The museum's website and Facebook page offer lots of information for visitors. They also have easy-to-understand articles and educational resources.
See also
In Spanish: Museo paleontológico Egidio Feruglio para niños
