Page 37 - combinepdf
P. 37

Folded hexagonal rock columns in High Island

             Hong Kong Geoparkong Kong Geopark
             H

             The  Hong  Kong  Geopark   rst  became  a  Nation  Geopark  in  2009.  Since  2011,  it  has  been  accepted  as  a
             member of the GGN, and was renamed officially as “Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark”.

             Hong  Kong’s  geography  includes  long  and  sinuous  coastlines,  where  landforms  and  rocks  are  shaped  by
             waves and weathering, resulting in sea cliffs, sea caves, and sea arches.

             The centrepiece of the Hong Kong Global Geopark is the rare honeycomb-shaped rock columns that tower the
             High  Island  region.  These  hexagonal  rock  formation  was  generated  by  volcanic  activities  as  early  as  140
             million years ago. The eruptions released magma from the inside of the Earth. The lava subsequently cooled
             down, solidi ed and contracted, and weathered over millions of years, producing these spectacular columns
             along the coast.

             Another interesting master piece of the Global Geopark is the Devil's Fist in Wong Chuk Kok Tsui. Formed by
             weathering and erosion by sea water, the Devil's Fist remains as one of the oldest rock formations in Hong
             Kong, dating back to about 400 million years.


             To  serve  the  purpose  of  the  education,  the Geopark  Visitor  Centre  and  Rock  Academy  and  the Volcano
             Discovery Centre were located in Sai Kung for convenience of the visiters who can  nd interesting but little-
             known facts of Hong Kong's Geohistory.

             Other examples of UNESCO Global Geoparksther examples of UNESCO Global Geoparks
             O
             Huangshan Global Geoparkuangshan Global Geopark
             H

             Mt  Huangshan  is  not  only  a  spectacular  mountain  range  with  strange  yet  magni cent  granite  peaks  and
             boulders, but also an inspiration to poets, painters, and artists from the past to the present.

             M
             Mount Taishan Global Geoparkount Taishan Global Geopark

             Mt Taishan Global Geopark, located in the Midwest of Shandong province, stands in the east of the North
   32   33   34   35   36   37   38