Cretacious Valley

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Only 95 km. to the south west of the city of Neuquén, leaving along route 22 and then taking the turning to route 237, in the territory of Neuquén province, you will find Villa El Chocón, where the famous Cretaceous Valley is emplaced. This valley possesses a considerable amount of paleontological remains that will seduce you.

    This is a protected area created by provincial law for the conservation of the precious resources found in the area.

    You will see several relieves, among which stand out The Giants, a terrain divided by the erosion and corrosion provoked by the wind and the water, where you will appreciate several tones in the layers of clay and red sand divided by white and pale stripes according to the percent of oxide they possess.

    In these rich strata, paleontological rests of dinosaurs dating from 100 million years ago from the Cretacious period have been found.

    In the area there are petrified forests of cinnamon color, formed mainly by conifers turned into stone through the transformation of the original material under special humidity conditions necessary for such a mutation, called silification process.

If you are interested in paleontology and you are around, apart from travelling through the Cretacious Valley, do not miss the opportunity to visit the Paleonlology Museum in El Chocón.