Geopark GrenzWelten seeks Geotope of the Year 2022
In 2017, the first Geotope of the Year was chosen. In 2022, for the sixth year in a row, the GrenzWeltenNational Geopark will again receive the award. So far, the Devonian limestone of the "Schmidt" quarry and armoured fish site in Bad-Wildungen Braunau, the natural monument "Dohlenfelsen" near Frankenberg, the "Hollenkammer" in Volkmarsen-Lütersheim, the Ederstede/ Klingelstede near Burgwald-Birkenbringhausen and the Riesenstein near Naumburg-Heimarshausen in the Habichtswald Nature Park have been selected as geotopes particularly worthy of protection. With this campaign, the Geopark wants to raise public awareness of the importance and value of individual geological objects and at the same time contribute to the protection of all geotopes. Proposals for the award will be accepted until 4 March. The Geopark project office is looking forward to a lively participation.
If you are wondering whether a particular rock formation should be classified as a geotope at all, you can find information on this in the definition: According to this, geotopes are "earth-historical formations of inanimate nature that provide insights into the development of the earth and life". For example, outcrops of rocks or soils belong to geotopes, but also special natural creations such as karst caves or rock formations. They must also be characterised by their special geological significance, their rarity or their beauty in order to be worthy of preservation as a geotope. They are particularly valuable for science and research as well as for the teaching of natural history and local history.
Proposals for the award can be submitted by individuals as well as by citizens' groups or associations. The proposal should be accompanied by a brief description of the object and a justification of why the proposed geotope should be highlighted. The project office checks the suitability and selects the winning geotope from the proposals. This will then be presented to the public. For further information, please call 05631 954-512 or send an e-mail to geopark@lkwafkb.de.