Dinosaur Plateau

In the far eastern reaches of Turkmenistan, nestled within the Kugitangtau (Koytendag) mountains at an elevation of 1,500 meters, lies one of the most extraordinary natural wonders: the Dinosaur Plateau. This remarkable site, a vast limestone slab perched on a hillside, is accessible via a half-hour trek from the small village of Khodjapil. The world was first introduced to this site in 1980, and it quickly gained a reputation as the largest “repository” of dinosaur footprints. While similar footprints have been discovered in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China, and the United States, none match the sheer number found in Turkmenistan. Here, about 150 distinct dinosaur tracks, varying in size and condition, have been preserved.

The plateau itself spans an area of 200 by 80 meters, with a slope of 17 to 20 degrees. This natural limestone formation, revealed by geological forces, is encircled by earthy slopes covered in shrubs and grasses. The elongated slab is dotted with massive fossilized footprints, ranging from 20 to 70 centimeters in length. These ancient impressions are believed to belong to three species of Jurassic dinosaurs, though their exact identities remain uncertain. Some experts hypothesize that they may include Megalosaurus, Iguanodon, and Tyrannosaurus. Intriguingly, alongside the dinosaur tracks, there are also footprints resembling those of a human or a human-like creature, the origin of which remains a mystery.