Drumheller, (51°28′N 112°44′W Elevation: 2200 ft., is a town in the Badlands of east-central Alberta, on the Red Deer River. It is located 110 kilometres northeast of Calgary.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, a world renowned museum that hosts the world's largest collection of dinosaur fossils under one roof, is located in the northwest part of the town along the North Dinosaur Trail.
South of the traffic bridge on Highway 9 north and south one can find the World's Largest Dinosaur—a 90 foot high T. rex that you can climb up inside of and view the Badlands including the adjacent 80 ft water fountain that lights up at night, again one of the largest in Canada.
Drumheller can as well be defined as a "Little Hollywood" for its role and choice Hollywood location for more than 50 commercials, music videos and cinematic productions including Shanghai Noon, Unforgiven, Knockaround Guys and Rat Race.
During the peak of the coal era (1930s) Drumheller's population exploded to more than 30,000 and became a city in 1930. Drumheller was Western Canada's largest coal producer and now it contributes to a vibrant energy sector and can boast Alberta's second largest natural gas deposit called "The West Drumheller Field". To benefit from Provincial and Federal grants the city dropped its city charter and once again became a town in 1997.
Tourist attractions include The Suspension Bridge, Altas Coal Mine (the last free standing tipple in Canada), Drumheller Valley Ski Hill, Canadian Badlands Passion Play, Horseshoe Canyon, Water Spray Park, Aquaplex with indoor and two outdoor pools, Horse Thief Canyon, hoodoos, Midland Provincial Park, Rosedeer Hotel in Wayne, 27 km of constructed pathways, Bleriot Ferry, East Coulee School Museum, Homestead Museum, Reptile World (largest display of reptiles in Western Canada), Little Church that seats thousands (ten at a time) and all this with an impressive supply of parkland to start. To really experience Drumheller you have to see it, as it is an oasis in a long travel across the prairies that must be experienced.
Hoodoos are a collection of vertical soft sandstone rock formations characterized by the harder capstone. The capstone protects the softer sandstone from errosion.
East of Drumheller, Alberta, on Highway 10, the Hoodoos are in a protected park and a local attraction.
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