28 Oct 2022

Shilin Karst was selected as one of the First 100 International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) Geological Heritage Sites on 25 October 2022 for its outstanding and unrivalled pinnacle karst clusters.

According to geologists, diverse karst landforms in Shilin area provide the best record to the regional geological history. Shilin ended its marine history in the last stage of Middle Permian and started its continental evolution right to the present. Covered respectively by basalt and lacustrine red beds, Shilin karst of diferent ages has preserved and re-exposed. Shilin is therefore perhaps the only site in the world that preserves the oldest stone forest karst (Permian), and the place that reflects regional geological history of over 200 million years with successive karst landforms. Various pinnacle karst landforms, almost all existing pinnacle karst landform, such as spire and pinnacle, can be identified within the area. It is therefore regarded as the “Museum of Stone Forest Karst”. “Stone forest” is a term describing a distinctive karst landform and the term is now widely known by the academic circle and the general public.

The selection of IUGS Geological Heritage Sites aims to recognize geological heritage sites of high international scientific significance around the world to promote their conservation, education and geotourism. The First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites are being announced from October 25 to October 28 (Spain time) in Zumaia, a town in the Basque Coast UNESCO Global Geopark, Spain. The selected geological heritage sites include Shilin Karst on the Mainland, Uluru/Ayers Rock in Australia, the Grand Canyon in the United States and Pamukkale Travertines in Turkey, among others.     

This project is a collaborative effort involving international organizations such as UNESCO's International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme, geological survey institutions and research institutions around the world. One hundred and eighty-one sites in 56 countries were nominated. All nominations were evaluated by no less than three international experts, and a total of 33 international experts participated in the evaluations. For more details of the First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites, please visit: iugs-geoheritage.org.