McAbee Fossil Beds

McAbee Fossil Beds in British Columbia preserves part of an ancient lake bed formed about 52 million years ago in the early Eocene and is internationally important for its exceptionally rich and well-preserved fossils. Its plant, insect, and fish remains record a temperate, wet lake environment with mild winters and abundant rainfall, while volcanic ash layers helped establish the site’s age. Among its notable finds are diverse fish, insects, and as many as 76 plant genera, including trees now absent from the region. Scientific study expanded from early regional fossil reports to major modern research, and the protected site is now managed by the Bonaparte First Nation.

British Columbia · Canada