Wadi El Hitan – Whale Valley

Journey through 40 million years of Earth’s history with an immersive virtual exploration of Wadi El Hitan, the Valley of the Whales. Begin at the modern Fossils and Climate Change Museum, an eco-friendly structure built from local materials that blends seamlessly into the desert landscape. Navigate through exhibits explaining how this barren desert was once covered by the ancient Tethys Sea.

Step outside onto the main fossil trail where marked pathways guide you across the desert floor scattered with prehistoric marine fossils. Virtually approach the first complete Basilosaurus skeleton – an 18-meter-long ancient whale lying in its death position. Interactive 3D viewing lets you examine the skeleton from all angles, zooming in on remarkable details like the small hind leg bones that prove whales evolved from land-walking mammals.

Continue along the trail discovering multiple whale skeletons at different sites. Each fossil location has informational displays accessible through virtual hotspots explaining the specific whale species, how it lived, and what its presence reveals about ancient ecosystems. See Dorudon skeletons – smaller prehistoric whales that coexisted with the giant Basilosaurus.

Walk among surreal rock formations carved by millions of years of wind erosion. These sandstone sculptures create an alien landscape where ancient seabed sediments have been exposed and shaped into mushroom rocks, pillars, and abstract formations. Virtual geology features explain how layers of sediment turned into rock, preserving the ancient ocean creatures within.

Explore scattered fossil sites showing shark teeth, turtle shells, sea snake vertebrae, crocodile remains, and fossilized mangrove roots. The desert floor is literally covered with seashells and ancient coral fragments – tangible evidence of the thriving marine ecosystem that once existed here.

Experience the valley at different times through virtual time-lapse features. Watch sunrise illuminating the fossil skeletons in golden light, midday harsh desert sun creating dramatic shadows on rock formations, and sunset painting the ancient seabed in orange and purple hues. Night sky features reveal spectacular stargazing opportunities in this remote desert location.

Interactive paleontology features provide 3D reconstructions showing how these ancient whales looked when alive, swimming in warm shallow seas. Animations demonstrate how geological processes over 40 million years transformed an ocean into desert, preserving these incredible fossils for modern discovery.