What do the words “Canadian wilderness” make you think of? Odds are it’s forests, lakes, and rivers, or perhaps sprawling plains and arctic tundra. But Canada is home to other landscapes too, including the desert-like badlands of Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park.
The park, full of chimney-shaped hoodoos and dry, sandy hills is known for its otherworldly beauty and its ancient history — and we mean ancient. The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains 75-million-year-old fossils from at least 44 species of dinosaurs (some of which end up at the renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum). And while this part of the world looked different when dinosaurs ruled the land — it was filled with lush tropical forests bordered by the newly formed Rocky Mountains — millions of years’ worth of geological processes and erosion have transformed it into badlands filled with banded rock formations that stretch as far as the eye can see.
Though arid, this region is undeniably striking, and full of animal and plant life, including cacti, antelope, and a wide variety of birds. If you’re interested in seeing one of Canada’s most unique ecosystems, a trip to Dinosaur Park should definitely be on your itinerary. To get a taste, check out our photo gallery of amazing shots taken at the park.
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