SHANIKO-FOSSIL HIGHWAY & CLARNO PALISADES: Wheeler County, Central Oregon (March 2025) скачать в хорошем качестве

SHANIKO-FOSSIL HIGHWAY & CLARNO PALISADES: Wheeler County, Central Oregon (March 2025)

Though drone flights are prohibited inside the individual Units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in the Central Oregon high desert, there still are many beautiful spots for miles around where you can pull over and launch from alongside the Shaniko-Fossil Highway and remain compliant outside park boundaries. The Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Wheeler County preserves the oldest fossil record in the park, showcasing a lush, semi-tropical rainforest that existed 44 to 54 million years ago. Located 18 miles west of the town of Fossil, Oregon, this 1,969-acre unit is defined by the Clarno Palisades, dramatic cliffs formed from ancient volcanic mudflows (lahars) that trapped and fossilized a diverse array of species. It is the only unit in the monument where visitors can see "wild" fossils—such as leaves, seeds, and branches—directly embedded in the rocks along the trails. Notable paleontological discoveries here include the Clarno Nut Beds, which hold the world’s most species-rich collection of fossil wood, and the Hancock Mammal Quarry, where remains of prehistoric brontotheres, tiny four-toed horses, and crocodilians have been unearthed. Visitors can explore this ancient landscape through three short, interconnected trails: the Trail of Fossils, the Clarno Arch Trail, and the Geologic Time Trail. #centraloregon #drone #johnday #clarno #fossils #highdesert #oregon #neildiamond #hollyholy #shaniko #geology #paleontology