Dinosaur Museums in Neuquén, Argentina
Museums in Patagonia Display Dinosaur Bones and Fossils
Apr 13, 2009
Jurassic Park comes alive in Argentina, the country where some of the world’s most important dinosaur bones have been dug up. The world's oldest-known dinosaur, the world’s largest-known dinosaur as well as the world's largest-known carnivore were all found in Argentina. Replicas of these prehistoric animals are on display in several dinosaur museums around the city of Neuquén.
Dinosaur Bones in Patagonia
Patagonia became world-famous after the first dinosaur in South America was discovered here in 1883. Within Patagonia, Neuquén has gained the honour of being nicknamed "The Valley of Dinosaurs", thanks to the large number of findings. Other territories rich in dinosaur bones are the Gobi Desert in China and the western region of the United States. Patagonia is the richest-known dinosaur area in the Southern hemisphere.
Dinosaur Museum in Plaza Huincul
When in 1989 a farmer was preparing a foundation for a barn in his garden, he stumbled across bones that were beyond any size he had ever seen. Palaeontologists investigated the site and concluded the dinosaur bones belonged to the Argentinosaurus Huinculensis, the world's largest-known herbivore dinosaur.
Museo Municipal Carmen Funes at Plaza Huincul is a wonderful dinosaur museum to visit with children: it displays a replica of the 40 metres long and 18 metres high Argentinosaurus Huinculensis. When standing next to it, an adult doesn't even reach the dinosaur's knee and it is difficult to imagine how these massive animals once used to roam the planet - human beings would have been trampled like ants.
Dinosaur Bones and Eggs in Dinosaur Museum Plaza Huincul
An explanatory panel shows which dinosaur bones were found and how the researchers came to the reconstruction of this Argentinosaurus Huinculensis. A guide will give an instructive tour and explain details of other replicas on display as well, like the Giganotosaurus Carolinii - the world's largest carnivore. Furthermore, the dinosaur museum displays dinosaur eggs that were found in Argentina in 2001.
Corner of Ruta 22 and Ruta 17, Plaza Huincul; opening hours Mon-Fri 9am-7.30pm / Sat & Sun 9am-9pm; entrance fee 2 pesos [US $0.65].
Villa El Chocón – Ernesto Bachman Municipal Museum
In Villa El Chocón, 77 kilometres southwest of Neuquén city, the largest-known, meat-eating dinosaur Giganotosaurus Carolinii was discovered. Measuring 42 feet, it is only slightly longer than the well-known Tyrannosaurus Rex that was found in the United States. The dinosaur is dated as being 100 million years old and was discovered in 1993 by a local fossil hunter, Rubén Carolini.
The Municipal Museum displays the findings of the dinosaur Giganotosaurus Carolinii, of which eighty percent of the fossil material has been rescued. In the surroundings of Lake Exequiel Ramos Mexía, one can see preserved footprints of dinosaurs that lived 105 million years ago.
Centro Paleontológico Lago Barreales
Paleontological centr0 Lago Barreales lies northwest of the city of Neuquén along Ruta 51. The area is so rich in dinosaur fossils that just walking there may lead to new discoveries. Apart from visiting the dinosaur museum or a guided tour of the site, visitors are welcome to stay and participate in the search for dinosaur bones and fossils.
Participating in the dinosaur bones and fossil search costs about 120 pesos per day [US $30] and is done under the supervision of palaeontologists and project director Jorge Calvo.
Av Megaraptor 1450- Ruta Provincial 51, Km 65 Lago Barreales; tel: 0299-154182295; email: info-turismo@proyectodino.com.ar
Paleontological Sites and Dinosaur Museums in Argentina
- More dinosaur bones, or other fossils, may be found in museums in Trelew, Bariloche, Puerto Deseado, and in Puerto Natales in south Chile.
- The world's oldest-known dinosaur is miniscule, not even a metre long. It was found in Ischigualasto Provincial Park, in the province of San Juan, and a replica is displayed in the dinosaur museum at the entrance of the park.
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