Abu Dhabi Emirate has the richest exposure of Late Miocene fossil deposits in the Arabian Peninsula. These fossils are contained within geological deposits known locally as the Baynunah Formation. Scientists dated these deposits using palaeomagnetic methods and by comparing particular fauna fossils with similar fossils found elsewhere, to between 6–8 million years ago. At that time Abu Dhabi resembled modern day East Africa, with giant rivers sweeping through a savannah-like landscape providing opportunities for a wide variety of animals like elephants, hippopotami, giraffes and antelopes whose descendants no longer live in the region today.