Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument |
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A part of the fossil beds with Gass Peak in the background
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| Nearest city | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Area | 22,650 acres (9,170 ha) |
| Established | 2014 |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument |
The Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is a special place near Las Vegas, Nevada. It was created in 2014 to protect amazing discoveries from the Ice Age. This monument covers about 22,650-acre (9,170 ha) of land. The National Park Service helps take care of it.
This national monument is located in an area called the Upper Las Vegas Wash. It protects part of the historic Tule Springs area. You can also find rare plants here, like the Las Vegas bear poppy. People in the local community worked hard to make sure this important area became a national monument.
Contents
Discovering Ancient Life: Paleontology
This monument is famous for its incredible fossil finds. Paleontology is the study of ancient life, like dinosaurs or Ice Age animals. Scientists have found fossils of huge animals that lived thousands of years ago.
Ice Age Animals Found Here
Some of the amazing creatures discovered at Tule Springs include:
- Columbian mammoths: These were giant, hairy elephants.
- Camelops: An ancient type of camel that lived in North America.
- American lions: A very large type of lion that roamed the land.
These fossils are very old, ranging from about 7,000 to 250,000 years old! They help us understand what life was like during the Ice Age.
How the Monument Was Created
To become a national monument, a special law needs to be passed. The idea for Tule Springs Fossil Beds became a law in 2014.
The Lawmaking Process
The plan to protect Tule Springs went through the U.S. Congress. Congress is where elected officials make laws for the country. Both parts of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate, approved the plan in December 2014.
President Obama Signs the Law
After Congress approved it, President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on December 19, 2014. This made Tule Springs Fossil Beds officially a national monument, protecting it for future generations to explore and learn from.
