Mount Changbaishan listed in Global Geoparks network

2024-04-03

Source: Jilin Daily

On March 27, Mount Changbaishan Global Geopark was listed in the Global Geoparks network by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

UNESCO's Executive Board has endorsed the addition of 18 sites to the UNESCO Global Geoparks network, of which 6 are situated in China.

Mount Changbaishan Global Geopark is located in the southeast Jilin province and adjacent to the Pacific fold belt. It covers an area of 2,723.832 square kilometers with the highest peak-Baiyun Peak reaching an altitude of 2,691 meters. Renowned for its quaternary volcanic landforms, the park boasts a wealth of geological remnants including giant compound volcanic cones and crater lakes, millennium-old volcanic eruptions and their deposits, debris canyons, and giant crater lakes such as Tianchi Lake. With over 380 craters, it holds the distinction of being the region with the biggest number, greatest density and widest distribution of volcanic rocks in East Asia.

Known as a rare "ecological museum" and "species gene bank" in the world, Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve was established in 1960. Located in the central part of the Changbai Mountain area, it serves as an important ecological barrier in Northeast China. For over 60 years, generations of local residents have been committed to protecting the ecological environment of Changbai Mountain.

To protect geological relics, the Changbai Mountain Protection and Development Zone Management Committee in recent years has carried out geological exploration, built a database of geoparks, and completed the renovation of the geological museum, the upgrading of the identification system and the construction of geological showrooms and science popularization schools. Currently, Mount Changbaishan Global Geopark has complete infrastructure including tourism services, science popularization education and emergency rescue.