6. Monte San Giorgio - Switzerland

6. Monte San Giorgio

This pyramid -shaped, wooded mountain between the southern arms of Lake Lugano is the best fossil record of marine life from the Triassic Period (230 - 245 million years ago), when a lagoon covered the area. The long history of study of the site, and the disciplined management of the resource have created a well documented and catalogued body of specimens of exceptional quality - fish ammonities, crustaceans but also reptiles insects and plants. Monte San Giogio provides the principal point of reference, relevant to future discoveries of marine Triassic remains throughout the world.

Web:   www.montesangiogio.ch