Zhangye National Geopark, China
China has a record number of geological parks that are of global value. There are about 40 geoparks in China - that is, at least 25% of their worldwide number. Among them, the palm of victory goes to the Zhangye National Geopark which is located near the city of Zhangye in China's northwestern Gansu province. In 2009, the park was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Zhangye National Geopark covers an area of 510 square kilometres and is distinguished by multicoloured multimeter rock formations. Scientists suggest that it took rocks almost 24 million years to form. The best time to visit the Zhangye National Geopark is from June to September when the weather is sunny.
Odsherred, Denmark
Denmark’s Odsherred Geopark is located 100 kilometres west of Copenhagen. The park is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. The Odsherred Geopark landscape was shaped in the Ice Age - that is, around 15,000-19,000 years ago. Most of the hiking trails pass through a hilly landscape with fjords, coves, and bays. The park often hosts entertainment and educational programs. The management of the Odsherred Geopark cooperates with local farmers. Notably, an abundant harvest is gathered in the surrounding areas of the geopark. Odsherred has a unique development program that will be run in 2020-2024.
Ngorongoro Lengai, Tanzania
Ngorongoro Lengai was founded two years ago in northern Tanzania thanks to the assistance of UNESCO and the financial support of the European Union. The geopark covers an area of 12,000 square kilometres. The main attractions of Ngorongoro Lengai are Ngorongoro crater, which is home to wild animals, as well as stratovolcano Ol Doinyo Lengai. It is the only volcano in the world with almost no silicon in its lava. In the Ol Doinyo Lengai gorge, scientists find the remains of hominids and artifacts from the Stone Age. The park is home to about 230 thousand people engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture.
The Buhais Geology Park, UAE
In 2020, the Buhais Geology Park opened in Sharjah, one of the largest cities in the UAE. The park has a unique history. Six steel-plated concrete buildings were erected on a former prehistoric sea in the desert. The archeological site features marine fossils from over 65 million years ago. Five buildings of the Geopark are interconnected by reinforced concrete discs. One of the key functions of the Buhais Geology Park is to raise environmental awareness. The buildings exhibit archaeological artifacts. Tourists have an opportunity to explore sand dunes, the Persian Gulf, and the Jebel Buhais mountain range by means of interactive displays.
Izu Peninsula UNESCO Global Geopark, Japan
The Izu Peninsula UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the southeast of Honshu, one of the five main islands of the Japanese archipelago. The Izu Peninsula sits on the edge of the Philippine tectonic plate. It is the only place in the world where two mountain formations with active volcanoes intersect. Due to the location of the Honshu island, volcano eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis occur frequently on the territory of the Izu Peninsula. There are more than 90 cult sanctuaries in the geopark as well as many hot springs, and a volcano that went extinct about 4,000 years ago.
Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark, Hungary and Slovakia
The Novohrad-Nógrád UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the Pannonian Basin on the border between Slovakia and Hungary. It is the first global transnational geological park under the aegis of UNESCO. The Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark covers an area of about 1,587 square kilometres. Its geodiversity includes a variety of minerals. Both countries, Slovakia and Hungary, are involved in the development of this territory. The Geopark committee consists of four representatives from each country. The committee members are elected every four years. Some volcanic rocks on the territory of the park are of great value as they are more than 30 million years old. Apart from that, there are tourism and research centers in the geological park.
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