Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve
| Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve | |
|---|---|
Ediacaran fossils, with a penny for size comparison | |
| Location | Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
| Nearest city | St. John's |
| Coordinates | 46°37′55″N 53°11′25″W / 46.63194°N 53.19028°W |
| Area | 5.7 km2 (2.2 sq mi) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Official name | Mistaken Point |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | viii |
| Designated | 2016 (40th session) |
| Reference no. | 1497 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve is a wilderness area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located at the southeastern tip of Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The reserve is home to the namesake Mistaken Point Formation, which contains one of the most diverse and well-preserved collections of Precambrian fossils in the world. Ediacaran fossils discovered at the site constitute the oldest known remnants of multicellular life on Earth.