World Heritage Sites, Geology: Asia
Geologic treasures in the World Heritage Site system.
China: Mount Huangshan
"Huangshan, known as 'the loveliest mountain of China,' is renowned for its magnificent scenery made up of many granite peaks and rocks emerging out of a sea of clouds."
"Huangshan, known as 'the loveliest mountain of China,' is renowned for its magnificent scenery made up of many granite peaks and rocks emerging out of a sea of clouds."
China: Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian
"Scientific work at the site, 42 km southwest of Beijing, is still underway. So far, it has led to the discovery of the remains of Sinanthropus pekinensis, who lived in the Middle Pleistocene, along with various objects, and remains of Homo sapiens sapiens dating as far back as 18,000�11,000 B.C."
"Scientific work at the site, 42 km southwest of Beijing, is still underway. So far, it has led to the discovery of the remains of Sinanthropus pekinensis, who lived in the Middle Pleistocene, along with various objects, and remains of Homo sapiens sapiens dating as far back as 18,000�11,000 B.C."
China: Three Parallel Rivers
"The property is of outstanding value for displaying the geological history of the last 50 million years associated with the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate, the closure of the ancient Tethys Sea, and the uplifting of the Himalaya Range and the Tibetan Plateau."
"The property is of outstanding value for displaying the geological history of the last 50 million years associated with the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate, the closure of the ancient Tethys Sea, and the uplifting of the Himalaya Range and the Tibetan Plateau."
India: Nanda Devi National Park
"The Nanda Devi National Park is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the Himalayas. It is dominated by the peak of Nanda Devi, which rises to over 7,800 m."
"The Nanda Devi National Park is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the Himalayas. It is dominated by the peak of Nanda Devi, which rises to over 7,800 m."
Indonesia: Lorentz National Park
"Located at the meeting-point of two colliding continental plates, the area has a complex geology with ongoing mountain formation as well as major sculpting by glaciation. The area also contains fossil sites which provide evidence of the evolution of life on New Guinea."
"Located at the meeting-point of two colliding continental plates, the area has a complex geology with ongoing mountain formation as well as major sculpting by glaciation. The area also contains fossil sites which provide evidence of the evolution of life on New Guinea."
Indonesia: Sangiran Early Man Site
"Excavations here from 1936 to 1941 led to the discovery of the first hominid fossil at this site. Later, 50 fossils of Meganthropus palaeo and Pithecanthropus erectus/Homo erectus were found - half of all the world's known hominid fossils."
"Excavations here from 1936 to 1941 led to the discovery of the first hominid fossil at this site. Later, 50 fossils of Meganthropus palaeo and Pithecanthropus erectus/Homo erectus were found - half of all the world's known hominid fossils."
Indonesia: Ujung Kulon National Park
"This national park, located in the extreme south-western tip of Java on the Sunda shelf, includes the Ujung Kulon peninsula and several offshore islands and encompasses the natural reserve of Krakatoa."
"This national park, located in the extreme south-western tip of Java on the Sunda shelf, includes the Ujung Kulon peninsula and several offshore islands and encompasses the natural reserve of Krakatoa."
Japan: Shiretoko Peninsula
"Shiretoko Peninsula, in the northeast of Hokkaido, provides an outstanding example of the interaction of marine and terrestrial ecosystems as well as extraordinary ecosystem productivity largely influenced by the formation of seasonal sea ice at the lowest latitude in the northern hemisphere."
"Shiretoko Peninsula, in the northeast of Hokkaido, provides an outstanding example of the interaction of marine and terrestrial ecosystems as well as extraordinary ecosystem productivity largely influenced by the formation of seasonal sea ice at the lowest latitude in the northern hemisphere."
Malaysia: Gunung Mulu National Park
"Gunung Mulu National Park, on the island of Borneo in the State of Sarawak, is the most studied tropical karst area in the world. The Sarawak Chamber, 600 m by 415 m and 80 m high, is the largest known cave chamber in the world."
"Gunung Mulu National Park, on the island of Borneo in the State of Sarawak, is the most studied tropical karst area in the world. The Sarawak Chamber, 600 m by 415 m and 80 m high, is the largest known cave chamber in the world."
Mongolia/Russia: Uvs Nuur Basin
"The closed salt lake system of Uvs Nuur is of international scientific importance because of its climatic and hydrological regimes. Because of its unique geophysical and biological characteristics, the basin has been chosen as an IGBP site for monitoring global warming."
"The closed salt lake system of Uvs Nuur is of international scientific importance because of its climatic and hydrological regimes. Because of its unique geophysical and biological characteristics, the basin has been chosen as an IGBP site for monitoring global warming."
Nepal: Sagarmatha National Park
"Sagarmatha is an exceptional area with dramatic mountains, glaciers and deep valleys, dominated by Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world (8,848 m)."
"Sagarmatha is an exceptional area with dramatic mountains, glaciers and deep valleys, dominated by Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world (8,848 m)."
Philippines: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
"This park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences."
"This park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences."
Russia: Lake Baikal
"Situated in south-east Siberia, Lake Baikal is the oldestand deepest lake in the world. It contains 20% of the world's total unfrozen freshwater reserve. Known as the 'Galapagos of Russia', its age and isolation have produced one of the world's richest and most unusual freshwater faunas, which is of exceptional value to evolutionary science."
"Situated in south-east Siberia, Lake Baikal is the oldestand deepest lake in the world. It contains 20% of the world's total unfrozen freshwater reserve. Known as the 'Galapagos of Russia', its age and isolation have produced one of the world's richest and most unusual freshwater faunas, which is of exceptional value to evolutionary science."
Russia: Kamchatka Volcanoes
"This is one of the most outstanding volcanic regions in the world, with a high density of active volcanoes, a variety of types, and a wide range of related features. The six sites group together the majority of volcanic features of the Kamchatka peninsula. The interplay of active volcanoes and glaciers forms a dynamic landscape of great beauty."
"This is one of the most outstanding volcanic regions in the world, with a high density of active volcanoes, a variety of types, and a wide range of related features. The six sites group together the majority of volcanic features of the Kamchatka peninsula. The interplay of active volcanoes and glaciers forms a dynamic landscape of great beauty."
Russia: Sikhote-Alin Range
"The nominated area is representative of one of the world's most distinctive natural regions. The combination of glacial history, climate and relief has allowed the development of the richest and most unusual temperate forests in the world."
"The nominated area is representative of one of the world's most distinctive natural regions. The combination of glacial history, climate and relief has allowed the development of the richest and most unusual temperate forests in the world."
Thailand: Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest
"The Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex is a rugged mountainous area ranging from 100 m to 1,351 m high. The site is home to more than 800 species of fauna, including 112 mammal species (among them two species of gibbon), 392 species of birds and 200 reptiles and amphibians."
"The Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai Forest Complex is a rugged mountainous area ranging from 100 m to 1,351 m high. The site is home to more than 800 species of fauna, including 112 mammal species (among them two species of gibbon), 392 species of birds and 200 reptiles and amphibians."
Turkey: Hierapolis-Pamukkale
"Deriving from springs in a cliff almost 200 m high overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have created at Pamukkale an unreal landscape, made up of mineral forests, petrified waterfalls and a series of terraced basins. At the end of the 2nd century B.C. the kings of Pergamon established the thermal spa of Hierapolis. The ruins can be seen at the site."
"Deriving from springs in a cliff almost 200 m high overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have created at Pamukkale an unreal landscape, made up of mineral forests, petrified waterfalls and a series of terraced basins. At the end of the 2nd century B.C. the kings of Pergamon established the thermal spa of Hierapolis. The ruins can be seen at the site."
Vietnam: Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park
"The karst formation of Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park is the oldest major karst area in Asia. Subject to massive tectonic changes, the landscape is extremely complex with many geomorphic features of considerable significance. The vast area, extending to the border of Laos, contains spectacular formations including 65 km of caves and underground rivers."
"The karst formation of Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park is the oldest major karst area in Asia. Subject to massive tectonic changes, the landscape is extremely complex with many geomorphic features of considerable significance. The vast area, extending to the border of Laos, contains spectacular formations including 65 km of caves and underground rivers."
Vietnam: Ha Long Bay
"Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest."
"Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest."