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, or MEF, is a super cool science center in Trelew, Patagonia, Argentina. It's a place where you can explore ancient life! The museum shows off amazing fossils of plants and animals from Patagonia. You can learn how this region has changed over millions of years. The museum is named after a famous geologist, Egidio Feruglio.
MEF is a top science spot in Argentina. It has strong research programs. Scientists here study paleontology (ancient life), paleobotany (ancient plants), and ichnology (fossil tracks). They also study plants that live in dry, desert-like places.
Contents
Discovering Ancient Patagonia
MEF's main exhibition takes you on a journey through Patagonia's past. It starts about 10,000 years ago, when the first people lived there. Each room shows fossils from different time periods. You'll see ancient land and sea creatures.
Giant Dinosaurs of Patagonia
The Mesozoic hall is a huge hit! Here you can see the giant dinosaurs that once roamed Patagonia. It's one of the most popular parts of the museum. After exploring, a mini-theater shows a film. It tells the story of the Universe, all the way back to the Big Bang!
Seeing Fossils Up Close
The exhibition also lets you peek into MEF's special lab. This is where scientists carefully clean fossils. They remove rocks from around the ancient bones. You can watch them work on new fossil discoveries!
The Mystery of the Jurassic
A BBC film called The Mystery of the Jurassic plays daily. It features MEF scientists. You can watch it in the "Germán Sopeña" Auditorium.
Traveling Dinosaurs
MEF also has a traveling exhibition called "Dinosaurs of Patagonia." It has visited many cities in Argentina and other countries. It even went to Germany, Spain, Portugal, and the Czech Republic. Other museums around the world use copies of MEF's exhibits.
Bryn Gwyn Geopark: An Outdoor Museum
MEF also manages the Bryn Gwyn Geopark. This is a large natural area with amazing geology. It's about 8 kilometers south of Gaiman. The park has trails where you can see real fossils and copies. Some fossils are up to 40 million years old!
Amazing Fossil Discoveries
MEF is a special research center. It works with Argentina's National Research Council (CONICET). Most of MEF's scientists are also CONICET researchers.
The museum has a huge collection of fossils. In 2009, it had over 17,000 fossils! It also has a lab for preparing fossils. There's even a workshop to make copies of fossils. These copies are used for research and museum displays.
Finding the Biggest Dinosaur
In 2014, MEF paleontologists made an incredible discovery. They dug up the remains of seven titanosaurs in Patagonia. These were Patagotitan mayorum, the largest dinosaur ever found!
A huge copy of a 37-meter-long skeleton was made by the museum. It has been on display at the Natural History Museum in London, England, since March 2023.
Fun Learning Programs
MEF offers many activities for families, schools, and everyone! Here are some cool examples:
- Open House: The museum opens its doors for free one weekend in June. They have special activities for everyone.
- Paleodesafío: This is a fun competition for high school students. It tests their knowledge of Paleontology, Geology, and Astronomy.
- Explorers in Pyjamas: Kids get to spend the night at the museum! They play games, learn, and even sleep among the dinosaurs.
- Café Scientifique: You can enjoy a cup of coffee and chat informally with a scientist. It's a great way to ask questions!
MEF scientists also visit schools. They help teachers and students with science projects. The museum's website and Facebook page offer lots of information. You can find articles, educational resources, and tourist tips there.
See also
In Spanish: Museo paleontológico Egidio Feruglio para niños
