Chhattisgarh

• 15 Mar 2022

Asia's Largest Marine Fossils Park

Why in News

On March 14, 2022, the State Forest Department informed that Asia's largest and Chhattisgarh's first Marine Fossils Park would be built at Manendragarh in Korea district.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will lay the foundation of this park on the occasion of World Forestry Day (March 21). This park has been named Marine Fossils Park.
• The proposed park is situated at the confluence of Hasdeo and Hasiya river in Amakherwa area about 1 km. will be developed in the area.
• It is noteworthy that information about having marine fossils in Amakherwa was received in the year 2012. In the year 2015, experts from Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany, Lucknow confirmed the existence of 250 million years old marine fossils here.
• In 2015 itself, the parts of the fossils were cordoned off by the Forest Department and developed as a heritage.
• About one kilometer between Hasdeo river in Amakherwa area. The area is full of fossils of marine fauna and flora. Fossils of sea creatures like bivalve molluscs, eurydesma and aviculopecten are present here. Apart from these, there are also species of pelecypods, gastropods, brachiopods, bryozoans and crinoids.