World Heritage Sites, Geology: Africa

"Located in a strange lunar landscape of great geological interest, this site has one of the most important groupings of prehistoric cave art in the world. The geological formations are of outstanding scenic interest, with eroded sandstones forming 'forests of rock'."

"Wadi Al-Hitan contains invaluable fossil remains of the earliest suborder of whales, the archaeoceti. These fossils represent one of the major stories of evolution: the emergence of the whale as an ocean-going mammal from a previous life as a land-based animal."

"The Awash valley contains one of the most important groupings of palaeontological sites on the African continent. The remains found at the site provide evidence of human evolution which has modified our conception of the history of humankind."

"A prehistoric site near Lake Turkana, the lower valley of the Omo is renowned the world over. The discovery of many fossils there, especially Homo gracilis, has been of fundamental importance in the study of human evolution."

"Massive erosion over the years on the Ethiopian plateau has created one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, with jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and sharp precipices dropping some 1,500 m."

"The most saline of Africa's large lakes, Turkana is an outstanding laboratory for the study of plant and animal communities. The Koobi Fora deposits have contributed more to the understanding of paleo-environments than any other site on the continent."

"Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa. It is an ancient extinct volcano. There are 12 remnant glaciers on the mountain, all receding rapidly. With its rugged glacier-clad summits and forested middle slopes, Mount Kenya is one of the most impressive landscapes in East Africa."

"Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve comprises karstic landscapes and limestone uplands cut into impressive 'tsingy' peaks and a 'forest' of limestone needles, the spectacular canyon of the Manambolo river, rolling hills and high peaks."

"The national park is home to many hundreds of fish species, nearly all endemic. Its importance for the study of evolution is comparable to that of the finches of the Galapagos Islands."

"The Bandiagara site is an outstanding landscape of cliffs and sandy plateaux with some beautiful architecture. The geological, archaeological and ethnological interest, together with the landscape, make the Bandiagara plateau one of West Africa's most impressive sites."

"The Sterkfontein area contains an exceptionally large and scientifically significant group of sites which throw light on the earliest ancestors of humankind. They constitute a vast reserve of scientific information, the potential of which is enormous."

"The uKhahlamba/Drakensberg Park has exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts."

"Dating back 2,023 million years, it is the oldest astrobleme found on earth so far. With a radius of 190 km, it is also the largest and the most deeply eroded. Vredefort Dome bears witness to the world’s greatest known single energy release event, which caused devastating global change, including, according to some scientists, major evolutionary changes."

"Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa. This volcanic massif stands in splendid isolation above the surrounding plains, with its snowy peak looming over the savannah."

"A large permanent concentration of wild animals can be found in the huge and perfect crater of Ngorongoro. Nearby, the crater of Empakaai, filled by a deep lake, and the active volcano of Oldonyo Lenga can be seen."

"The Rwenzori Mountains National Park comprises the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which includes Africa's third highest peak. The region's glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa's most beautiful alpine areas."

"These are among the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The Zambezi river, which is more than 2 km wide at this point, plunges noisily down a series of basalt gorges and raises an iridescent mist that can be seen more than 20 km away."