Throw Back Thursday - May 28/2015

Here is a Throw Back that goes even further back.

 

The lower Red Deer River is well known for its fossils in the Drumheller region. There is a world class Museum showing representations of finds local to that area in the town.

The upper Red Deer river has its own share of surprises. When you pull your raft to shore after running some rapids take a moment and look around. There are breath-taking views of the river valley framing the mountains to the west. And if you take the time to look closer there is whole new view of what life used to be like long before man.

We find history preserved among the rocks and cliffs on the shore. There are many fossils in the various strata of the rocks we traverse as we raft down the river. In some sections we see fossilized leaves exposed in the embankment by the erosion of the river. A section of shale can reveal many layers of leaves throughout it.

Another layer reveals small conical shells that are easily crushed with the fingers. They measure about 1 to 2 cms in length and are densely clustered together.

Several pieces of petrified wood and different types of corals are scattered along the shores.

There is another dimension to a wild, exciting day paddling the river. When you take a breather from the action, look around for the hidden surprises.