Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park

Austin, NV U.S.A.

The name says it all, almost. This park in central Nevada is noted for the turn-of-the-century ghost town of Berlin, abandoned when the gold and silver mines ran out, and for the fossils of the giant marine reptiles ichthyosaurs that lived here 225 million years ago.

Today's representatives of the reptile world are rattlesnakes, which are abundant at certain times of the year.

There are about three miles of roadways for cyclists and another two miles of moderate hiking trails. But, with 14 campsites and access to adjacent federal lands, the park is a popular base camp for backpackers launching longer trips.

A park ranger takes visitors on a tour of the ghost town of Berlin.

Part of the mining plant in the ghost town of Berlin stands abandoned at Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park.

The marine reptiles that left their fossilized remains at Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park about 225 milllion years ago may have looked like this.