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Geological periodsJurassic

Jurassic

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A scenic view of layered rock formations at Colorado National Monument, showcasing the Tidwell Member of the Morrison Formation over the Wanakah Formation.

The Jurassic Time

The Jurassic was a very old time in Earth's history. It started about 201 million years ago and ended about 143 million years ago. It was a warm and busy time for plants, animals, and the shape of our planet.

Land and Sky

During the Jurassic, all the big lands on Earth were stuck together in one huge piece called Pangaea. Slowly, it began to break apart into smaller pieces, like Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south. The weather was much warmer than today, even near the poles. Forests grew everywhere, and there were no big icy caps at the poles.

Amazing Animals and Plants

This time is very famous for its wonderful dinosaurs! Many new kinds of dinosaurs lived here, growing bigger and in more shapes than before. Some of the first birds also appeared, coming from small dinosaurs. In the oceans, interesting creatures like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs swam freely. Up in the sky, pterosaurs ruled the air with their wings.

Plants also changed a lot. Trees called conifers, like the ones we see today, began to grow widely. Ferns and other green plants covered the land. It was a rich and green world full of life.

Naming the Jurassic

The word "Jurassic" comes from the Jura Mountains between France and Switzerland. Long ago, a smart scientist noticed special rocks there and gave this time its name. Since then, many scientists have studied these rocks and the fossils inside them, learning about this amazing time in Earth's story.

Images

A map showing Earth as it looked 170 million years ago during the Bajocian Age.
A natural view of folded limestone layers in the Swiss Alps, showing how Earth's rocks can bend over time.
A unique rock formation called 'The Locomotive Stone' in the mountains of Argentina.
A beautiful view of Egmont Bight beach and cliffs from the Freshwater Steps promontory in Dorset, UK.
A map showing how Earth looked 190 million years ago during the time of the dinosaurs.
Map showing Europe during the Toarcian period of the Early Jurassic, highlighting ancient landmasses and geological features.
A map showing how Earth looked 155 million years ago during the Oxfordian Age, with modern country outlines overlaid for comparison.
A scientific map showing how the Pacific Plate formed 180 million years ago, illustrating ancient plate tectonics and Earth’s geological history.
A close-up view of ooid-rich limestone from the Carmel Formation in Utah, showing its unique texture and composition.
A fossilized cone from an ancient Araucaria tree, found in Patagonia, Argentina.
A fossilized leaf from the ancient plant Ginkgo huttoni, showing how plants looked millions of years ago.
An artist's restoration of an ancient plant from the Williamsoniaceae family, part of the Bennettitales order, for educational purposes.
Portrait of Alexandre Brongniart, a French scientist and founder of the National Museum of Ceramics in Sèvres.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Jurassic, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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