Title of article
The North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark: Oldest Fossils in Europe
Author/Authors
Benton, Michael J School of Earth Sciences - Life Sciences Building - Tyndall Avenue - University of Bristol, UK , Brasier, Alex School of Geosciences - Meston Building - University of Aberdeen, UK , Harrison, Peter North West Highlands Geopark - The Rock Stop - Unapool, Scotland , Hamlet, Laura North West Highlands Geopark - The Rock Stop - Unapool, Scotland
Pages
18
From page
25
To page
42
Abstract
The North West Highlands Geopark is probably one of the largest geoparks anywhere, comprising 2000 km2 of remote, mountainous and coastal terrain. It was the first European Geopark to be recognised in Scotland in 2004 and was designated by UNESCO as a Global Geopark in 2015. Since then, it has been very successful in delivering projects to support sustainable community and economic development based on the region’s Geoheritage and giving informative introductions to the geology, wildlife, landscapes, and human heritage of the region. The geological importance resides in the incredible age of the Lewisian rocks, which are some of the most ancient in Europe, and the organic-walled microfossils of the Torridonian rocks, amongst the oldest evidence of life in the continent of Europe, and possibly the oldest evidence of complex (eukaryotic) non-marine life in the world.
Keywords
Geopark , Geoconservation , Geotourism , Torridonian , Torridon Group , Stoer Head Group , Precambrian life
Journal title
Geoconservation Research
Serial Year
2021
Record number
2702660
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