What is Geopark?
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A Geopark is a kind of Nature Park which has scientifically important or beautiful geological assets.Geoparks are intended to revitalize the local area by utilizing valuable geological heritages for education, tourism and local industry.
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San'in Kaigan Geopark
The underlying themes of the Geopark:
Geological features, the natural environment, peoples' lives,
and the formation of the Sea of Japan
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At the San'in Kaigan Geopark, you will find lots of valuable geological assets which relate to the process from when Japan was part of the Asian Continent to its present-day formation of the Sea of Japan.
We have established five Geothemes to allow an easy understanding of the wide ranging geology and topography of the San' in Kaigan Geopark. Each theme functions as a key to understanding how the natural environment has developed. The development of the natural environment has been influencing the history and culture of the local people since ancient times. We have also grouped together the various Geosites within the Geopark to form Geoareas which effectively facilitate education and hands-on activities. |
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| A Museum of Geomorphology and Geology |
The San'in Kaigan Geopark possesses valuable and beautiful geological and topographical formations such as various rocks, strata, coastal landforms, inland waterfalls and gorges. The San'in Kaigan Geopark can be considered a "Museum of Geomorphology and Geology".
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| International Aspects |
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Genbudo Cave located in the Maruyamagawa River Geoarea is the location where the Quaternary geomagnetic reversal polarity theory was first proposed to the world. In 1926, Professor Motonori Matuyama of Kyoto University found that the basalt at Genbudo Cave, formed from volcanic activities approximately 1.6 million years ago, had a remnant reverse magnetization. The terrestrial reverse magnetic polarity was one of the bases for the seafloor expansion hypothesis and contributed to the plate tectonics theory. There are still a lot of internationally valuable landforms and geological heritage sites like Genbudo Cave in the San’in Kaigan Geopark.
On June 30th 2009, IUGS defined the beginning of early Quaternary Period (which was 2.59 million years ago) as the "Matuyama Reversed Epoch"..
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【Genbudo Cave】
Overseas travelers visit Genbudo Cave.
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| Biodiversity |
Diverse geological features have fostered the development of an afluent ecosystem.
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Sea Bells
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Oriental White Storks
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Golden Eagle
(Aquila chryseatos)
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Japanese Beech trees
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Baikamo
(Ranunculus nipponicus)
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Japanese Giant Salamander
(Andrias japonicus)
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| Gifted Culture and Life |
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The various cultures and industries unique to the environment of the San'in region are being utilized as tourism resources.
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The Kitamaebune Ships
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Rice Terraces
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Hot Springs
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Fishing Industry
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Amarube Railroad Bridge
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Ski Resort
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