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Undorovsky Paleontological Museum

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The Undorovsky Paleontological Museum, located in the center of the village of Undory, is dedicated to the study of the geological past of the Simbirsk Volga region. It is the first museum in Russia situated at the site of the discovery of fossilized animals and plants from the Meso-Cenozoic era. It is the only paleontological museum in the Volga region with an extensive collection of fossil marine invertebrates and reptiles. 2 km south of the museum is the geological natural monument Gorodishchensky section, which is a reference for the Volga and Tithonian stages of the Upper Jurassic system. The museum was established and headed until October 23, 2017, by candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences V. M. Efimov, who was also the chairman of the Ulyanovsk branch of the All-Russian Paleontological Society. The current director of the museum is candidate of biological sciences I. M. Stenyshin.

Since 1990, the museum has been a branch of the Ulyanovsk Regional Local History Museum, although its history began in 1981. The museum covers topics of geology, paleontology, mineral resources, as well as the nature, history, and ecology of the region. The museum's collection, which includes over 2,500 exhibits, consists exclusively of local finds. Here, one can see the remains of giant dinosaurs and marine reptiles, tools of ancient humans, bones of Ice Age animals such as mammoths, bison, and rhinoceroses, as well as get acquainted with the mineral water 'Volzhanka' and Simbirzite.

The museum's exhibition is divided into three halls:

The first hall is dedicated to the physical and geographical characteristics of the area, geology, and mineral resources of the Undory resort, including mineral water, Simbirzite, and marcasite, as well as nature, flora, and fauna.

The second hall tells about the ancient history of geological deposits and contains a collection of marine reptile remains, which is one of the most complete in Russia and is described in numerous scientific publications.

The third hall is dedicated to the history of human settlement in the area and the use of mineral waters from the Paleolithic to the present day, as well as archaeology and balneology of the resort area and the ecological situation.

In March 2010, a decision was made to relocate the museum to a new building, as the old one had not undergone major repairs for 135 years. It is planned that by May 2011, the museum will be located in the former bus station, and a new exhibition will be developed.

Geo point

Ундоровский палеонтологический музей

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