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GEOPARK BELOGRADCHIK ROCKS - PRIORITY OF THE BULGARIAN GEOCONSERVATION
Abstract
The nature conservation is an essential part of the human efforts for preservation of the natural landscape for the future generations. Both the living and the non-living parts of our environment are the subjects of bioconservation and geoconservation. Geoconservation aims to preserve the natural diversity of the non-living environment including bedrock features, landforms and soil features and processes. In the last two decades Bulgarian geologists have made effort s to recognize its geological heritage. In 2003 was created the Register and Cadastre of the Bulgarian geological phenomena. Belogradchik rocks, located in the West Balkan Mountain, northwest Bulgaria, have been estimated one of the global standards among the geological phenomena. This spectacular rock assemblage represents a remarkable combination of imposing rock monuments and beautiful mountain landscape. It is formed in Lower Triassic red continental sandstones and conglomerates of Petrohan Terrigenous Group, belonging to the famous Bundsandstein facies. Belogradchik Rocks are the major tourist attraction in the country, due to its di verse and spectacula r scenery, and unspoilt environment. Recently the municipality of Belogradchik has submitted to the European Geopark Network a geopark application dossier for th e present protected area. Considering the positive consequences for the local population, several new geosites (outcrops of special geological features) are proposed to be include d in an enlarged geopark area. These are mainly sites of special scientific in terest, like Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, Carboniferous fossil megaflora, remark able angular Carboniferous-Triassic unconformity, Permian-Triassic and Triass ic-Jurassic unconformities, the Jurassic section in the south limb of the Belogradchik anticlinorium, fossil deposits in Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous rocks, climatic cyc licity in Triassic carbonates, the Frontal Balkan strip, and some geosites of aesthetic value like Borovitsa Stone, Virgin Stone, etc. Their conservation value will be estimat ed according to the or iginal expert card used for evaluation of the geosites included in the Register and Cadastre of the Bulgarian geological phenomena.
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References12
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