Dinosaur Provincial Park

Dinosaur Provincial Park
Hoodoos at Dinosaur Provincial Park
LocationCounty of Newell / Special Area No. 2, near Brooks
Alberta
Coordinates50°45′42″N 111°29′06″W / 50.76167°N 111.48500°W / 50.76167; -111.48500
Area73.29 square kilometres (28.30 sq mi)
Founded1955
Governing bodyAlberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Provincial Park of Alberta1955
TypeNatural
Criteriavii, viii
Designated1979 (3rd session)
Reference no.71
CountryCanada
RegionEurope and North America
Dinosaur Provincial Park is located in Alberta
Dinosaur Provincial Park
Location of Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta

Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated 220 kilometres (137 mi) east of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; or 48 kilometres (30 mi) northeast of Brooks.

The park is situated in the Red Deer River valley, which is noted for its striking badland topography, and abundance of dinosaur fossils. The park is well-known for being one of the richest dinosaur fossil locales in the world. Fifty-eight dinosaur species have been discovered at the park and more than 500 specimens have been removed and exhibited in museums around the globe. The renowned fossil assemblage of nearly 500 species of life, from microscopic fern spores to large carnivorous dinosaurs, justified its becoming a World Heritage Site in 1979.