Severe drought in the US has uncovered dinosaur footprints dating back 113 million years ago in a river in Texas that has dried up. MailOnline reported that the tracks were mostly from the 15 feet tall and seven-ton Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur found at the Dinosaur Valley State Park. Scientists also identified some footprints of the Sauroposeidon, which was 60 feet tall and weighed 44 tons.
They showed that the dried-up river had revealed these footprints, which appeared as deep grooves in the muddy riverbed that measured several human hands across. The dinosaur tracks were typically filled with water and sediment that buried them and made them less visible. But the drought has made it possible to re-emerge from the river.
Massive Dinosaur Tracks Etched in Muddy Riverbed
Dinosaur Valley State Park's statement of "It's easy to find dinosaur tracks in the park - just head to the river!" has never been more true this week when the severe heat wave and drought dried up some parts of the |PAluxy river and revealed the dinosaur tracks from millions of years ago.
Stephanie Salinas Garcia, a spokesperson for the park, told CNN in an email that most tracks have just been recently discovered at different parts of the river. They said these footprints were from an Acrocanthosaurus and a Sauroposeidon that once lived in the area.
Park authorities shared a video via Facebook showing the footprints etched deep in the muddy riverbed. Garcia said that finding discoveries and identifying new dinosaurs has always been the exciting part of the park. The shoreline at the Dinosaur Valley State Park is the ideal consistency for preserving ancient footprints because of its carbonate deposits from the crustacean shells.
Experts said the tracks would be buried again under typical river conditions when there is no drought. Garcia noted that discovering the footprints brought about wonder and excitement at the park and that they will continue to protect these 113-million-year-old tracks for future generations.
Heat Wave in Texas 2022
According to MailOnline, this is the best time to explore the park as the low river conditions have revealed more dinosaur footprints under normal conditions due to the state's heat wave and extreme drought.
Over 60% of Texas has been experiencing drought in two of the most intense categories as of last week. The extreme drought has left many citizens in the state under excessive heat alerts.
Houston also recorded its hottest months last June and July, with residents bracing for steamier weather in August. The city recorded July 2022 as the hottest July in its history, with an average temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit, Houston Public Media reported. It followed the record-high temperatures in June at 86.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
But August is also known for when hurricane season intensifies, so, likely, that the record-setting heat will soon stop this month. Hurricane Harvey flooded a significant portion of the city in the same month last year.
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