UNESCO’s latest announcement of 18 new Global Geoparks brings the list to 213 locations in 48 countries, offering many options for geology, culture, and sustainability enthusiasts. Geoparks display the natural, cultural, and intangible heritage of their regions as well as geological wonders.
The UNESCO Global Geoparks are more than just sights. They are settings where geology, history, and biodiversity coexist. Interactive exhibits and guided tours teach visitors about geology, culture, and environmental sustainability at geoparks.
Geoparks promote sustainable tourism and education by blending the region’s unique geological history with its natural and cultural wonders. Geoparks use this holistic approach to empower local communities, promote environmental awareness, and inspire pride in the region’s amazing story, engraved into its landscapes.
Six of the 18 new Global Geoparks are from China: Enshi Grand Canyon-Tenglongdong Cave, Linxia, Longyan, Mount Changbaishan, Wogongshan, and Xingyi. Uberaba in Brazil, Schelde Delta in Belgium and the Netherlands, Biokovo-Imotski Lakes in Croatia, The South Fyn Archipelago in Denmark, Impact Crater Lake-Lappajarvi in Finland, Armorique in France, Normandie-Maine in France, Meteora Pyli in Greece, Bukk Region in Hungary, Land of Extinct Volcanoes in Poland, Oeste in Portugal, Calatrava Volcanoes, Ciudad Real in Spain.
Chinese Enshi Grand Canyon is famous for its natural beauty and geological wonders. The 108-kilometer Qing River canyon has towering cliffs, lush flora, and tumbling waterfalls. Attractions include Tenglongdong Cave, a limestone cave system in the canyon. Tenglongdong Cave’s exquisite stalactites, stalagmites, and underground rivers create a captivating underground landscape. Visitors to Enshi Grand Canyon can explore this mysterious cave system and learn about the region’s geology.
Brazilian Uberaba Global Geopark is one of the most intriguing. Uberaba Geopark covers 4,523.957 square kilometres in Minas Gerais. This large area has yielded Upper Cretaceous fossils, including teeth, eggs, and dinosaur clutches, estimated at 80 to 66 million years old!
With 18 fascinating new additions, UNESCO’s Global Geopark Network expands exploration and teaching. Geoparks become active classrooms for Earth’s story beyond magnificent landscape. The towering canyons of China and the fossil havens of Brazil all deepen our respect for nature. The network empowers local communities and promotes sustainability to preserve these geological gems. Get ready for your next excursion in a UNESCO Global Geopark!
