Technology
Drought uncovers 113 million-year-old dinosaur footprints
The acrocanthosaurus—which stood at around 15ft tall and weighed approximately seven tons—was an early cousin of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Dinosaur tracks from around 113 million years ago have been revealed at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas after a severe drought dried up a river, the park said in a statement.
The tracks are usually under water, but a recent drought saw the level of the Paluxy River drop significantly. The footprints—left by a single acrocanthosaurus—had not been seen for more than 20 years.
"Sweep a little bit of the dust and dirt away, this is what you'll find: dinosaur tracks," said an official.
The footprints are just the latest discovery uncovered by falling water levels due to drought.
Several sets of human remains have been discovered at Lake Mead in Utah in recent months as the reservoir has dropped to about 27% of its full capacity.
Meanwhile, the tracks are expected to be buried again as rain is forecast.
However, experts have taken the opportunity to map and monitor the dinosaur trackway before the river fills up again.
Texas Parks and Wildlife told reporters that while the tracks will be buried again by the rain and the river, the park "will continue to protect these 113-million-year-old tracks not only for present, but future generations".
The acrocanthosaurus—which stood at around 15ft tall and weighed approximately seven tons—was an early cousin of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
More than 60% of Texas was experiencing drought last week in two of the most intense categories, according to the US Drought Monitor.
The state also recently has experienced heat waves that pushed temperatures into the triple digits, leaving millions under excessive heat alerts.