MUSEUM SHOWS BIGGEST LAYERS IN THE WORLD FROM THE WORLD’S BIGGEST DESTRUCTION

STORY

The fear of an asteroid hitting the earth is not completely unfounded because it once hit the Earth and killed 50% of all life – including dinosaurs.

The hit left big traces in the world and especially in the UNESCO world heritage site just 1 hour south of Copenhagen, called Stevnt Klint or Stevns Cliff.

The area now tells the story of the hit in an new ambitious interactive museum opened by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who with fear in her eyes watched the film illustrating the fire and destruction that covered the Earth with an ash cloud for years in darkness, killing life.

Among other things, it left the thickest layer of clay seen anywhere in the world, right here in the cliffs along the coast of South Denmark.

The whole world was covered in ash clouds and the museum shows and proves its uniqueness by having samples from all over the world, where layers also are found. Stones with layers from New Zealand, Spain, Italy, and even Yucatan Mexico, where the 2500 tons big asteroid Chicxulub hit the Earth.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who is celebrating her 50th Jubilee rather discreetly in respect for the death of her friend Queen Elizabeth II, has a lifelong interest in archaeology. The  Queen enjoyed the tour around the museum with the head of the World Heritage site of Stevns Klint, Tove Damholt, that explained the museums before and after story:

“It was a global catastrophe. The dinosaurs died out, but some animals survived.”, says Tove Danholt, Head of Stevns Klint World Heritage and points at a little mammat that makes milk to their babies: ”And she is the ancestor of almost all. So thanks for surviving.”

The little mammal animal is actually the ancestor to the panda, bear, monkeys and us humans.

Visitors get emotional seeing the exhibition. Some explain that the Earth’s destruction gives parallels to today’s climate change and potential world war in Ukraine. “We have people crying seeing the exhibition” says Tove Damholt, Head of Stevns Klint World Heritage.

Queen Margrethe II has supported the museum since the beginning and in particular she is interested in the fossils found, which is described by UNESCO as “an exceptional fossil record is visible at the site, showing the complete succession of fauna and micro-fauna charting the recovery after the mass extinction.”

Walking on the beach you still find fossils lying around to pick up from shark teeth, parts from a mosasaur, as well as various corals.

“It was fantastic and interesting. And I think all people in the world may be interested in what they can see. Children, grow ups, old people, everyone. It’s so exciting.” says  guest Maud Julianna Næs from Norway.

It was 9 years ago in 2014, that UNESCO declared Stevn’s Cliffs a world heritage site and the municipality has since worked to prepare and open the right kind of interactive museum.

The museum has moved a big piece of the cliff into the museum, where a film is projected on, that shows the story of the Earth’s layers, development, and life until today.

“We want tourists and locals to discuss what is happening in the world.” ends Steen Bonke, CEO Stevns Klint Experience .

Mayor of Stevns Henning Urban Dam was very happy after Queen Margrethe II had opened and also ended the process of building the museum:

“It will have a very big impact on the area. Our identity will grow and our municipality will be even stronger”,end Mayor of Stevns Henning Urban Dam.

The museum is built into the nature and geological site of Stevns 15 km/9.3 mile -long fossil-rich coastal cliff, that is app. 41 meters /134 feet high.

A cliff showing one of the biggest disasters in the world – now finally after 66 mio years.

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