Uberaba Geopark: A time capsule from the Late Cretaceous period nestled in Brazil's tropical savanna
Uberaba Geopark, also known as the "Land of the Giants," is a region in Brazil's Cerrado biome that preserved thousands of prehistoric fossils.
The Uberaba Geopark, located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is a unique time capsule from the Late Cretaceous period, nestled within the country's tropical savanna. Officially recognized by UNESCO in 2024, the geopark showcases abundant, well-preserved fossils of dinosaurs, crocodyliforms, turtles, and other ancient creatures. One of the most notable discoveries is the fossil of Uberabatitan ribeiroi, a titanosaur measuring 89 feet (27 meters) long and 33 feet (10 meters) tall.
The park's geological features, such as the Serra da Galga formation and Serra Geral mountain range, formed from ancient basalt flows that predate the breakup of the Gondwana supercontinent. The unique conditions of alternating shallow lagoons and river systems during the dinosaur era helped preserve the fossils in mud when they died.
The geopark also sits atop one of the world's largest freshwater reservoirs, the Guarani aquifer, which supplies drinking water to over 100 cities in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
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