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Copper Coast GeoPark

In September 2001, under the auspices of UNESCO, European Geopark status was awarded to the stretch of coast from Tramore in the east to Dungargan on the west, Co. Waterford - more specifically between Fenor/Kilfarrasy in the east to Stradbally in the west and up to Dunhill in the north.

The Copper Coast gets its name from the 19th Century copper mines that lie at its heart. The park includes 25 kilometres of spectacular coastline. The rocks of the Copper Coast record geological events over 460 millions years

A Geological Park was built in Bonmahon in 1999, with help from Waterford County Council and in association with the Bonmahon Heritage Society. In the same year the Mining Heritage Centre was opened in Bonmahon telling the story of mining in Bonmahon and the surrounding areas.

The cliffs west of Bunmahon were mined for lead, silver and copper in the 18th century. Rocks include: Shale | Andesite | Rhyolite | Limestone | Sandstone

see also:- Stradbally, Bunmahon, Fenor, Tramore

European Geoparks Week - 27th May - 5th June 2007

European Geoparks Week is an annual event that occurs throughout the European Geoparks Network at the same time each year. The aim is to raise awareness of the European Geoparks Network by celebrating both Europe’s common geological history and the role that each individual Geopark plays within this. At the local level, this is an opportunity to explore the geology, landscape, wildlife, archaeology and build heritage of the Copper Coast.

Geoparks

The development of the Geopark is supported by the European Geoparks Network. The European Geoparks Network itself was developed under the auspices of UNESCO in 2000 by its founder members in France, Germany, Spain and Greece.

UNESCO launched the "Global Geoparks Network" in 2004 to reflect recognition of 8 geoparks in China.

Since August 2006 there are 26 territories across Europe are designated as European Geoparks. They all use and promote their geological heritage and facets of other heritage (archeology, culture, fauna & flora) as a tool for a sustainable development of tourism on their own territory. Within the European Geoparks Network, the different partners meet regularly to exchange about their experience and expertise on conservation, valorisation, education and tourism.

European Geoparks Network

France Réserve Géologique de Haute Provence, Digne, website
Astroblème - Châtaigneraie Limousine, website
Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon, website
Spain Maestrazgo Cultural Parc, website
Cabo de Gata, Nijar Natural Park, Andalucia, website
Sierras Subbeticas Natural Park, Andalucia, website
Sobrarbe Geopark, Aragon, website
Portugal Naturtejo Geopark, website
Italy Rocca di Cerrere, Sicily, website
Parco della Madonia, Sicily, website
Parco Beigua, Liguria, website
Greece Petrified Forest, Lesvos, website
Psiloritis Natural Park, Crete, website
Germany Vulkaneifel, Rheinland-Pfalz, website
TERRA Vita, Niedersachsen / Nord Rhein Westphalen, website
Bergstraße-Odenwald, Hessen, website
Nationaler GeoPark Schwäbische Alb , Bavaria, website
- (20) Braunschweiger Land - Harz - Ostfalen, website
Mecklenburg Ice Age Park, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, website
Austria Kulturpark Kamptal, Lower Austria, website
Naturpark Eisenwurzen, Steiermark, website
Romania

Hateg Country Dinosaur Geopark, website

Czech Republic Bohemian Paradise Geopark, website
Norway Gea Norvegica, website
United Kingdom Marble Arch Caves European Geopark, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, website
North Pennines AONB Geopark, England, website
Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark, Wales, website
North West Highland, Assynt, Scotland, website
Parc Daearegol Fforest Fawr, Wales, website
Ireland Copper Coast European Geopark, Co. Waterford, website

World Geoparks

1. Huangshan Mountain National Geopark, Anhui, web
2. Lushan National Geopark, Jiangxi Province, web
3. Yuntaishan Mountain National Geopark, web
4. Shilin Stone Forest Natioanl Geopark, Yunnan Province, web
5. Danxia Mountain National Geopark, Guangdong, web
6. Zhangjiajie Sandstone Peak Forest National Geopark, Hunan Province, web
7. Wudalianchi Volcanoes National Geopark, Heilongjiang Province, web
8. Songshan National Geopark, Henan Province web
9. Yandangshan National Geopark, Zhejiang Province, web
10. Taining Geopark, Fujian Province, web
11. Hexigten Geopark, web
12. Xingwen Karst National Geopark, Sichuan Province, web

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