Dinosaur tracks were recently revealed along the Paluxy River in Glen Rose, Texas, as the river’s record-low levels exposed ancient footprints. The Paluxy River runs through Dinosaur Valley State Park, southwest of Dallas.
The river’s dried bed uncovered dinosaur tracks estimated to be around 113 million years old, among them a long sequence of three-toed footprints believed to be among the longest dinosaur trackways ever recorded. Due to severe summer drought, the riverbed, typically covered by water and sediment, exposed previously hidden tracks.
Stephanie Salinas Garcia, a representative from Dinosaur Valley State Park, explained, “The intense summer drought caused the river to dry up, revealing something that’s normally hidden.”
According to experts, the tracks likely belong to the Acrocanthosaurus, a large dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, weighing up to seven tons and standing 4.5 meters tall. Previous discoveries in the park include tracks from Sauroposeidon, another colossal dinosaur reaching heights of 20 meters and weighing around 44 tons.
These discoveries have drawn visitors nationwide for a rare glimpse at these ancient marks. However, with Texas seeing increased rainfall, the tracks may soon be re-submerged. Despite this, the park is committed to preserving these 113-million-year-old traces for future generations.