Tatacoa Desert in Colombia receives global recognition as geological heritage site

NEIVA, COLOMBIA - SEPTEMBER 4: Captured by Anadolu on Wednesday, September 4, the Tatacoa Desert in northern Huila of Neiva, Colombia, has been designated a global geological heritage site by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).The Tatacoa Desert, actually a tropical dry forest covering approximately 330 square kilometers, has gained prominence for its La Venta area, notable for its Middle Miocene period fossils dating back between 11.6 and 13.5 million years ago.La Venta's paleontological discoveries include a diverse array of extinct species, such as giant rodents, primitive primates, and megafauna like the Megatherium and the Stupendemys geographicus turtle.These findings have been crucial in understanding the evolution of life in South America and the migration patterns between North and South America.(Footage by Jorge Eliecer Bastidas Barreto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)