Iouaridène

The Iouaridene structural basin contains several types of exceptionally well-preserved dinosaur tracks and footprints, printed in red clays of the Middle to Upper Jurassic (−160 million years). Sedimentary characteristics with desiccation cracks indicate a continental fluvio-deltaic environment with temporary emersions, favorable to the development of dinosaurs.

At Taghbalout, one of the largest known dinosaurs — Breviparopus taghbaloutensis — left its footprints along a 90-metre trail. Its footprints reach record dimensions of up to 1.15 m in diameter. The reconstruction of this animal (close to Brachiosaurus) assigns it a height of 20 m, a length of 30 m and a weight of 50 tonnes. Age: Middle to Upper Jurassic (−160 Ma).

Medium-sized sauropod dinosaurs living in herds (herd behavior) with parallel tracks showing semi-circular forelimb footprints (20 cm) and hindlimb footprints (50 cm) are also identified. Abundant tridactyl ichnofossils are attributed to theropods of 1.5 to 2 m, found in several regions (Portugal, Spain, America, Morocco), which were very close together during the Jurassic period.

Listed as a geosite of the M'Goun UNESCO Global Geopark, Iouaridene benefits from legal protection and is the subject of a scientific outreach and valorization program aimed at the general public and school groups.