ARCHAEOLOGY, The dinosaurs have left their footprints in the Vieux-Emosson valley.

It's a glorious day, clear skies with a gentle breeze... but the stunning alpine views and beautiful weather is not what these visitors came here to experience. Their interest lies high in the Vieux -Emosson valley, tracks left by other visitors, 230 Million years ago; the Dinosaurs. A geologist from the Natural History Museum of Geneva... explains that nine species lived here on what was once an beach of sand in the Jurassic period. Then plate techtonics got to work, breaking the earth's crust and forcing a new mountain range skywards. Eight Hundred Dinosaur footprints now reside at an altitude of 2400m, in the Vieux-Emosson valley on the French-Swiss border. Each year, thousands visit the high plateau above Lac d'Emosson to see the evidence of a real, "Jurassic Park". Nine species of dinosaur lived near the beach, the larger creatures reaching 4 meters in height and weighing in at 400 kg. This surreal location was discovered in 1976 by the French geologist, D. Bronner and was designated a Protected Site of Special Interest in November 1983. Allow 5 hours for a detailed visit. More info on access Le Dauphiné PS: The Vieux-Emosson valley (in Switzerland), is only a 30min drive from Chamonix, direction Vallorcine.