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Dinosaurs Footprints Route

Paleontology / San Fernando
  • 2 Hours
  • Tour guide
  • Pets
  • Internet Access
  • Bikeway
  • Restaurants


Description

About 500 meters from the hotel Termas del Flaco hot springs is the Dinosaur Footprints Trail, where rock blocks from the Upper Jurassic Period can be seen, with 60 cm long footprints dating back 150 mil- lion years.

Location

The route is located in Termas del Flaco, 77 km east of San Fernando, in the pre-mountain range next to the Tinguiririca River. They are at 1720 m of altitude in the Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins Region.

How to get

From Santiago by car take Route 5 Sur to San Fernando, then continue along I-45 to Termas del Flaco. The police Carabineros of Chile regulate the ascent towards the thermal baths according to the climatic conditions (Phone +56 722711219).

History

The Termas del Flaco became more notorious since 1960 when archaeologist Diego Márquez discovered dinosaur footprints in the hills. The footstep of three long fingers were of Theropods dinosaurs, belonging to the family of Saurischios that were carnivorous and bipedal. Other traces correspond to the species of Diplodocidae of the family of Sauropods, herbivores that had a long neck and tail and a small head. Different research has proposed that 150 million years ago a large volcanic eruption occurred that caused the eviction of these animals from the area, leaving their foot- prints printed in the mud.

Scientific project

Studies carried out by the Austral University and the Paleontological Society of Chile determined that the layer that covers the footprints is color petroleum blue, different to the color of the hills that currently cover the Region. The analysis concluded that it is volcanic ash, material that caused its subsequent petrification, which allows us to imagine the large size of these animals that were extinct 66 million years ago. The prints were declared Historical Monument in 1967. Currently the Regional Government intends to build a suspension bridge, a lookout, and install informational signs to conserve and enhance the route.

Contact

Tour: $10.000 chilean pesos per person www.facebook.com/SFernandoAventuras