The Fossil Lake that Froze Time

What if we could go back in time to see the world, everything in the sky, the land, and the water, exactly as it was.

This may seem impossible because really, all we have of ancient landscapes are a few fossils spread around here and there, right? And as far as we know, no ones invented any sort of time-machine. But there is a unique place on this planet where we can all take a step back and get a glimpse of life exactly as it was millions of years ago; everything frozen in time.

Source: Wikimedia

On this Saturday Around the World, we are heading to Messel, Germany, to the home of one of the planet’s most beautiful and extensive fossil deposits!

Not only are the fossils here remarkably well preserved, but they also give us a rare snapshot into a moment in time. Complete with fossils from the land, sea, and air, all as they were. We’re talking birds with feathers, pregnant horses, and even mating turtles!

So, how is it that we have such a rich deposit of fossils in one place? What happened to them? To answer this mystery and explore these beautiful specimens, we have a video from one of our favorite YouTube Channels, PBS Eons. Take a look…

Familiar Fossils

When I contemplate the vast history of life on this planet, I am in awe of the incredible diversity of species that have called this planet home. From lemur-like creatures that once lived in Germany to giant, prehistoric sloths that called the Americas home, life has found a way in some of the strangest forms.

The image of an idyllic watering hole feels so familiar to us today, and yet there one was, years ago, populated with species similar to, but not exactly like the ones we could run across right now. Even if you aren’t a “fossil lover”, it’s still remarkable to think about what a deposit like this brings to us. It connects us to and gives an incredible amount of information on how life on this planet was in a time before us.

Oh, and there’s another fossil lake!

We explored this one, located in Wyoming in the western United States, on a past Saturdays Around the World. Check it out!

It excites me to think how creatures will continue to evolve over the course of history! What new species we will discover as we comb the depths of the sea or unearth new fossils? What will we learn about how life was in a time before us?

Want to look even closer at these lives?

Scientists have recently been getting a different look at what life may have been like by getting close, like really close, to some of their bones. See what they’re finding in this article:

Stay beautiful & keep laughing!

-Liesl