Whale Fossil - Mission Viejo, CA
Posted by: 
bluesnote
N 33° 36.075 W 117° 40.327
11S E 437642 N 3718147
This whale fossil was found at this very spot while construction was going on to build the new, but now old, businesses space.
Waymark Code: WMJGEG
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 11/15/2013
Views: 7
There is also an earthcache here so don't forget about completing it. The plaque says "The main exhibit displays a fossil right whale skull in profile. It was recovered from the marine siltstone member of the Capistrano Formation (3.5 to 5 million years old) in the 1970's right here in Mission Viejo. It is a fossil skull from the family Balaenidea (Bowhead Whales and Right Whales). The vertebral column on exhibit behind the whale skull although not associated with the skull, was also discovered in the city of Mission Viejo. This fossil, which unearthed by the Mission Viejo Company durning grading operations in the souther part of Mission Viejo in 1976, is a partial skull of a Baleen Whale. A Baleen Whale is a member of the Bowhead whale Family. When alive, this particular whale would have been 58 feet long and weighed about 50 tons or the wight of 575 men. This skull would have measured nine feet across and about 14.5 feet long. The fossil is owned by the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum and is on permanent loan to the City of Mission Viejo. It is the only fossil skull of this to be on scientific display in California."
What kinds of fossils are found here:
Whale Fossils
Admission Fee: no
Link for more information about this site: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:At least one good photo you have personally obtained and a brief story of your visit. Any additions or corrections to the information about the Waymark (for instance, have the hours open to the public changed) will be greatly appreciated.