The rich past of Nova Scotia | 300 million years ago, in Joggins

It still takes a little time. Nevertheless, efforts to go back in time: highways, then a quiet country road, then a small village that has known better days. For example, Then. In addition, the joggins fossil center, a witness to what was going on here more than 300 million years ago, at the late carboniferous period.

There were no dinosaurs there, but funny molluscs, fish, insects, lush vegetation. Consequently, “The equator then passed through Joggins, who was part of the pangée supercontinent,” explains the guide interpreter Dana Brown. Therefore, Before adding, with a bit of regret: “Since then, the Panamá has taken rich past nova scotia | our place. Similarly, »»

A small exhibition in the Fossils center makes it possible to familiarize yourself with the site. Similarly, added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008 to recognize the richness of the fossils found there.

Joggins’ cliffs, which stretch 15 kilometers along Fundy bay, contain 15 million years of geological history.

However, Fundy bay has the highest tides in the world. Meanwhile, In some places. For example, the water rich past nova scotia | can go up 15 meters and reach the bottom of the cliffs, accelerating its erosion and overwhelming the stones on the beach. Thus, each tide can update fossils that have been hidden for more than 300 million years.

Coal. fossils – Rich past nova scotia |

It is possible to browse the beach at its own pace, provided you have an eye on the rise of waters. But Dana Brown recommends a guided tour. “At first glance, everything seems the same, everything looks gray. We may not notice what is interesting. »»

Hasdened (stone falls are possible near the cliffs). we follow Dana and descend rich past nova scotia | the stairs that lead us on the beach, while the fog extends over the bay. Our guide pointed out to us a thick black line at the bottom of the stairs: a vein of coal.

He explains to us that coal was at the center. of the joggins economy at the beginning of the last century. There were 83 mines there, a quay for loading ships, a railroad track. The coal industry, however, declined after the Second World War. “The quality of the coal here was not that good. rich past nova scotia | it was not easy to transport it elsewhere and oil took over,” he explains.

The last mine closed in 1961, and the minors left to work in Ontario automobile factories. Dana Brown’s father managed to stay here by buying a boat and becoming a fisherman.

The village of Joggins has pericked, but it may well experience new growth thanks to tourism.

And tourists, often, like fossils.

Great discovery

On the beach. Dana Brown stops here and there to show different fossil traces: delicate leaves, a tree trunk, waves caused by water on rich past nova scotia | the sand, now immortalized in the stone.

Visitors are caught up in the game and are looking for small treasures among the stones. Soon. they show their discoveries in Dana Brown, who is happy to explain what we see there: here, an old root which seems to emerge from a rock there, small leaves printed on a stone.

Donna Floyd, of Alexandria, Ontario, approaches the guide knowing that she got her hands on a little wonder. She had taken the time to look at the fossils on display in the exhibition center before the guided tour. Once on the beach, she recognized something. “Oh, it’s a shrimp head!” “Confirms Dana Brown. It must have been a big shrimp, the head is three good centimeters in diameter. Pygocallus, to be more precise.

Visitors cannot keep the fossils and must be satisfied with photos. However, the Institute of Joggins Fossils has a permit which allows the collection of fossils for education and research purposes. This is how Dana Brown puts Donna Floyd’s little treasure in her bag. Back to the center after the visit. he fulfills a relationship with the description of the fossil, Donna’s contact details, and took a photo of Ontario and its discovery for a publication on social networks. It’s glory!

Consult the Joggins Fossilifer Fossilifers website (in English)