William Atkins
Sunday, 08 November 2009 19:18
Science -
Biology
Page 1 of 2
New Zealand geologists have uncovered the first evidence with respect to footprints that dinosaurs roamed New Zealand over seventy million years ago, and the first evidence ever of dinosaurs on South Island.
The island country of New Zealand, in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, is composed of North Island and South Island, along with several other smaller islands.
Dinosaur footprints found in northwest Nelson, on South Island, have given scientists their first proof that these prehistoric animals roamed South Island over 70 million years ago.
Footprints of dinosaurs were discovered in northwestern part of Nelson, a region at the northern end of South Island. Specifically, the discovery was made near the Whanganui Inlet/Golden Bay area of the
Nelson and Marlborough region.
An area of about ten kilometers (six miles) in length comprise where the footprints were found. Six specific locations within the area hold the footprints.
The land resides on a combination of private land and public land, protected by the Department of Conservation.
About twenty footprints were discovered in one particular soft sandstone location.
Of the dinosaur footprints found, the largest ones measure about 60 centimeters (two feet) in diameter.
Page two contains a video of the discovery, featuring the geologist that headed the research.
