One of the most common and popular activities in Broome is to go searching on the beaches for dinosaur footprints at low tide.
Millions and millions of years ago these awesome creatures roamed the earth. Even though they are long gone now they have left their mark on the planet in ways we can still see today.
My hand compared to one of the more prominent prints.
One of the things they have left behind for us in Broome is footprints. lots and lots of footprints. Now it can be hard to tell because obviously they are millions of years old but others are quite obvious and pronounced.
These footprints formed in one of two ways, either as depressions in the sandstone or as raised platforms in the sandstone. In some areas their weight compacted the sandstone inward and the surrounding rock stayed intact leaving the classic "footprint" we are used to. In other cases their weight compacted the sandstone in one spot and over millions of years the surrounding weaker stone has been eaten away by weather, leaving a pillar like section where they stood.
There are a number of different footprints to be found and Gantheum beach is the most popular spot to find them. Some are large and deep, made by a clearly enormous dinosaur. Others are smaller, shallower and contain obvious signs of large claws. They look similar to a bird footprint but much much larger.
We struggled to find them at first as when you're looking around rockpools and the ocean the rocks have often been worn in interesting patterns and some look an awful lot like a footprint but in reality are nothing. We enlisted the help of some locals we have made friends with and they were able to show us both the ones everyone finds and are mapped out for tourists, and some sneaky less well known ones.
These footprints can be found all around Broome, especially when the tide goes out revealing the rocky outcrops and sandstone. The lower the tide the more footprints can be seen. There's something pretty amazing about the fact that even after millions of years there is still evidence of these awesome creatures that roamed the earth.
It would of been incredible to see these creatures roam the planet but I'm happy to just appreciate what they left behind too.