Two more China’s national park – Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe Geopark and Huanggang Dabieshan Geopark – have just received the prestigious designation of UNESCO Global Geoparks on Tuesday.
The UNESCO's Executive Board approved the designation of 13 new Geoparks from 11 countries and regions in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Two Chinese sites are involved as they demonstrated "the diversity of the planet's geology".
Located in Bazhong City in southwestern China's Sichuan Province, the Guangwushan-Nuoshuihe Geopark displays natural landscapes such as karst and tectonic landforms, waterfalls and ponds. "It is an important place for the analysis of the geological evolution of peripheral basins, because of its location in the transition zone between southern and northern karst landforms," according to the UNESCO statement.
The other one is Huanggang Dabieshan UESCO Global Geopark. With a core area of 2625.54 square kilometers, located in the south of Dabie Mountains, and to the northeast of Hubei Province, it is situated at the north bank of the Yangtze River. As an important dividing line of geography, geology, climate and ecology of the Central Orogenic System in China, with the significance of global geological comparison, Huanggang Dabieshan UESCO Global Geopark retains multiple phases of deformation ever since Archean and various geoheritages resulted of magmation.
The Global Geoparks Network is a UNESCO assisted network established in 1998. UNESCO Global Geoparks are locations which promote community-led initiatives to enhance sustainable development. There are 140 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 38 countries and regions now.