| Fossil Lake | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Fossil_Lake_sign,_Lake_County,_Oregon.JPG) Fossil Lake interpretive sign | |
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:USA_Oregon_relief_location_map.svg)  Fossil Lake location in Oregon | |
| Location | Lake County, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°19′33″N 120°29′27″W / 43.3258°N 120.4909°W |
| Area | 10.2 sq mi (26 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,295 ft (1,309 m) |
| Governing body | Bureau of Land Management |
Fossil Lake (designated by the Bureau of Land Management as Fossil Lake Area of Critical Environmental Concern) is a dry lakebed in the remote high desert country of northern Lake County in the U.S. state of Oregon. During the Pleistocene epoch, Fossil Lake and the surrounding basin were covered by an ancient lake. Numerous animals used the lake's resources. Over time, the remains of many of these animals became fossilized in the lake sediments. As a result, Fossil Lake has been an important site for fossil collection and scientific study for well over a century. Over the years, paleontologists have found the fossil remains of numerous mammals as well as bird and fish species there. Some of these fossils are 2 million years old.