Spectacular finds of dinosaur fossils

The announcement that Brazilian scientists unveil a reconstruction of Tyrannosaurus ancestor is another in a series of spectacular finds ofdinosaur fossils in South America.

The sites, mainly in Bolivia, Argentina and Southern Brazil, have yielded fossils of tremendous importance to paleontologists and dinosaur fans worldwide. The finds range from this reconstructed Santanaraptor, who in life was a carnivore standing around two-and-a-half feet tall, measuring about six feet from head to tail and weighing about 65 pounds, to the huge 100-ton Argentinosaurus, considered by some experts to be the largest dinosaur ever recorded, to the more recent discovery of a new as yet unnamed and unclassified dinosaur thought to be 27 feet longer than that.

Dinosaurs have been the stuff of movies for years, usually depicting to-the-death battles with early species or destroying cavemen and modern man with equal fervour. Thanks now to the increasing amount of knowledge gained from the study of fossils found in South America, scientists are learning new facts, many of which disprove earlier held theories.

Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina is a paleontologically rich site, with numerous finds of dinosaurs and like species.

There are more finds in Patagonia, shared by Argentina and Chile, Bolivia and Southern Brazil. The landscape looks far different now than it did in the Jurassic period, when the supercontinent Pangaea drifted apart and slowly evolved into the world as we know it now. Then, before the Andes grew, the terrain was level and marshy, able to support huge animals. Now, news stories like New, Unknown Dinosaur Found in Bolivia bring attention to the way the earth’s surface has changed over the centuries.

Scientists recently discovered volcanic formations in Brazil’s Amazon Basin that correlate with volcanic formations in West Africa, Spain, and North America and this caused the breakup of Pangaea and a mass extinction of marine and reptile species, leaving dinosaurs to fill the void.

The fossil sites aren’t recent discoveries in all locations. In many cases, local residents knew of the bones, thought nothing of them and went about their business. In some places, local lore developed about strange beasts and sightings that equaled the Loch Ness monster and became South America’s Mokele-Mbembe.

The exploration of the many fossil areas gives rise to new demands for scientists, government protection of the area and controlled access for those who’d like to explore on their own and take home a memento or two. The question arises: how to investigate the fossil finds, satisfy curiosity, increase funding for further exploration, protect the sites and manage the increasing number of people who want to see for themselves?

Bolivian Dancers perform at Carnival

Oruro, in the department of the same name, is located in the high altiplano  southeast of La Paz. This area of Bolivia is a natural marvel, a wild, windy wilderness with few people and towns. At an altitude of 12,159 ft (3,708.5 m), Oruro is the only city on the southern end of Bolivia’s altiplano, and it is cold, arid and circled by mountain peaks. The highest is San Felipe.

Oruro seems an unlikely spot for the capital of Bolivia’s folkloric traditions, yet UNESCO has proclaimed Oruro a Tangible Heritage site.

Much of Oruro’s cultural traditions are based on the legend of Wari, Lord of the Earthquakes, who lived inside Mount Uru Uru. Every morning, the sun’s firstborn daughter, Inti Wara, the dawn, woke Wari, who tried to capture her with arms of smoke and fire but the Sun always rescued his daughter.

Seeking revenge, Wari turned the local farmers away from solar worship and their agricultural efforts and into activities pursued in the dark: mining, drinking too much chicha and the worship of snakes, lizards and frogs. The people became silent and apathetic.

Following a fierce rainstorm, Inti Wara descended to earth on a rainbow accompanied by handmaidens and chiefs Wari had exiled. The goddess reinstituted the ancient worship of the sun, taught the people to speak Quechua, and guided them along the righteous path.

Nevado Sajama and Church, Oruro

In retaliation, Wari send four great plagues: La Vibora, a monstrous serpent that devoured livestock; El Sapo, a colossal frog; El Lagarto, a lizard that threatened to destroy villages; and las Hormigas, a legion of ants. Inti Wara fought each of these plagues, decapitated them and turned them into stone. Today they are the rock formations of La Víbora, el Sapo, el Lagarto and las Hormigas.

Following her victory, and to prevent further retribution from Wari, Inti Wara transformed herself into the Virgen de Socavón, Patrona de los Mineros, the patron saint of miners. Wari became El Tio, the uncle, who lives underground in the mines.

During carnaval, one group of dancers is dressed in devil costumes, led by the chief dancer, called Waricato, representing Wari.

Founded on November 1, 1606 by Don Manuel Castro de Padilla, Oruro was originally called Real Villa de Don Felipe de Austria, in honour of then Spanish monarch Felipe III, after silver was discovered the year before. The city became known as Oruro from Urus, one of the indigenous groups of the area, and during the 17th century, it became the largest city in what was then the Alto Peru region.

As the silver was exhausted, the Indian workers moved elsewhere, leaving behind an abandoned city. Agriculture is not possible at this altitude, and it wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the city revived after Simon I. Patiño bought La Salvadora, a tin mine located east of the city. This mine became the world’s most productive and made Patiño one of the wealthiest men of the age.

With the decline in tin, Oruro again rested, although today Oruro still depends on mining of tin, tungsten, and copper as the foundation for its economy.

Mining and tourism, that is.

In addition to the cultural attractions of Oruro, the environment itself draws visitors to the altiplano. Hot springs, the flamingos and other wildlife at Lake Poopó, mystic desert mirages, volcanic activity, the great salt lakes, or salars, such as at Coipasa and Salinas de Garcia Mendoza, and the rock formations at Pumiri.

Nestled in the Caribbean, Belize’s barrier reef, the second-largest in the world, and Mayan ruins are drawing tourists and property buyers. A growing eco-tourism sector and an English-speaking populace add to the attraction.

Where is it? Belize is a small Central American country on the Caribbean Sea, bordered by Mexico and Guatemala.

What’s so special about it?

The country was previously known as British Honduras until 1973. It gained independence in 1981, after more than a century as a British colony, but it remains part of the Commonwealth and English its official language. Two-thirds of the country is covered in lush forests and the 386-kilometre coastline is guarded by a barrier reef. With a population just under 300,000, Belize is a small nation. However, it is emerging as a forerunner for investment in Central America. Belize was named “the best long-range investment site in the Caribbean” by Caribbean Dateline Magazine.

Best-kept secrets? Belize has strived to develop its eco-tourism market. Its jungles and reefs are home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, including endangered species such as the manatee and jaguar. Tourism is now the second-biggest industry in the country, accounting for 18% of GDP.

Who’s who? Belize has young and growing population as its birth rate is among the highest in the world. Its most notorious resident is Shyne, a Belizean-American rapper who is part of P. Diddy’s entourage. Francis Ford Coppola, after visiting the country filming Apocalypse Now, bought two resorts there. Actor Tim Roth got married in Belize, and Leonardo DiCaprio reportedly owns a $3.5-million island off the coast.