The Geoheritage Significance of Eroding Landscapes
Geoheritage is an emerging field, with some aspects of geodiversity receiving more attention than others. Erosional landscapes, such as Monument Valley in Utah and Zhangjiajie National Forest in China, are celebrated in art and film for their awe-inspiring beauty. This variety of structures is only possible due to the wide range of erosional patterns experienced on the Earth’s surface. Geoheritage provides an avenue to appreciate and safeguard the remarkable diversity of erosional landscapes.
UNESCO Geoparks are areas reevaluated every four years to ensure their adherence to the mission of preserving landscapes of international geological significance. These Geoparks are reliant on geotourism, which highlights the importance of aesthetic value. It has been argued that erosion is a critical factor in creating aesthetically pleasing landscapes. Geodiversity encompasses mineral composition and landscape features, yet the Grand Canyon’s Outstanding Universal Value is primarily attributed to erosional factors, indicating that erosional features can be of heritage importance.
UNESCO Global Geoparks are selected for their mineral diversity and the influence their landscape has had on the local inhabitants. Examples include the Discovery Geopark in Newfoundland, featuring coastal caves and sea stacks, and the Vouraikos Geopark in Greece, formed by millennia of water erosion of Chelmos Mountain.
The presence of caves and other natural formations which provide protection from the elements have been instrumental in preserving human history; without them, Paleolithic paintings would have been lost and much evidence of human habitation would have been destroyed. Historically, humans have been known to utilize stone as a building material, with those that are more erosion-resistant being favored in the areas where they are found. This preference for erosion-resistant materials may have been an unconscious decision, as the stones which were most used were those which had endured the environment in which they were situated. Erosion is a powerful tool for uncovering the deep-rooted history of the Earth, providing a window into the life that has inhabited it. In many cases, paleontological and archaeological discoveries are made by chance when someone stumbles across a piece of history that has been exposed by erosion. An example of this is the Waco Mammoth National Monument, which was only made possible due to two men spotting the remains of a mammoth eroding from a creek bed. Examining the eroded rock face is one of the most effective ways to gain insight into the past.
Erosional landscapes possess immense aesthetic value, which can be utilized as an effective tool to educate the public about geologic processes and geoheritage. People are often familiar with the results of erosion, such as rivers and rock arches, and their appreciation of these features can be leveraged to transition into the educational realm. For instance, the exposed rock layers of the Grand Canyon can be used to explain sedimentary layering and bedding, while arches, mesas, and canyons can be used as visible examples of the effects of different erosional processes and how different types of rock respond to them. Moreover, erosion has the unique capacity to erase evidence of human works, such as windblown dunes or wave-carved cliffs, which can be used to demonstrate nature’s strength and reinforce the significance of heritage conservation and the difficulties faced by historic sites.
Depositional environments, such as fluvial fans and flood plains, are essential to the erosional process, as well as possessing great aesthetic value. Examples of flood plains used for human agriculture and habitation since ancient times include the Nile delta and the Mississippi river delta, both of which played a key role in the development of iconic landmarks. This rich history provides an opportunity to use depositional environments as a platform for education.
In conclusion, erosional processes have a significant influence on surface-level landscape modification, and many aesthetically pleasing and significant landscapes result from weathering and deposition. These features are easily distinguishable and understandable to people with little to no formal education, allowing geoheritage professionals to use the universal beauty of landscapes to teach the public a deeper understanding of geoheritage. Awe-inspiring landscapes formed by erosional processes provide an effective way to connect the land to its history.
