From Scottish mountains to a French village perched on a cliff 辛勝する／優位 and blockbuster Irish cliffs, 素晴らしい photo 調書をとる／予約する 明かすs incredible 'living 研究室／実験室' Unesco geoparks - areas of breathtaking 地質学の significance

By Laura Sharman

Published: | Updated:

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The Earth's surface is a 記録，記録的な／記録する of the past. Its valleys, mountains and landscapes tell a story that dates 支援する 4.5billion years.

So says Unesco?director-general Audrey Azoulay in the introduction to new 調書をとる／予約する The Unesco 全世界の Geoparks, published by Gestalten.

The captivating new tome is packed with photographs showcasing all of the world's Unesco 全世界の Geoparks - areas of exceptional 地質学の significance - of which there are almost 200 spanning 48 countries.

These landscapes are 'filled with flora and fauna, 同様に as a tapestry of 地質学の 形式s', によれば Ms Azoulay, who 言及するs to the geoparks as 'living 研究室／実験室s', where 地質学の 過程s take place and 'cultural 関係s to the land' are celebrated.

Scroll 負かす／撃墜する to see MailOnline Travel's 厳選した 選択 of photographs from the 調書をとる／予約する, which is written by Unesco.

From 素晴らしい Scottish mountains to a French village perched on a cliff 辛勝する／優位, and from blockbuster Irish cliffs to otherworldly Chinese valleys, these landscapes will take your breath away.?

YANDANGSHAN, CHINA: This picture was taken in an area 'where ancient wonders unfold'. This extraordinary canyon, pictured in the mist, shows how the Earth's surface moved dramatically more than 100million years ago, according to the tome. One tectonic plate, called the Kula-Pacific Plate, slid beneath another, the Asian Continental Plate, unleashing 'colossal' volcanic eruptions that 'sculpted the region's peaks', it explains. When to visit: March to June, September to December

YANDANGSHAN, CHINA: This picture was taken in an area 'where 古代の wonders 広げる'. This 驚くべき／特命の／臨時の canyon, pictured in the もや, shows how the Earth's surface moved 劇的な more than 100million years ago, によれば the tome. One tectonic plate, called the Kula-太平洋の Plate, slid beneath another, the Asian 大陸の Plate, 抑えるのをやめるing 'col ossal' 火山の 爆発s that 'sculpted the 地域's 頂点（に達する）s', it explains. When to visit: March to June, September to December

IZU PENINSULA, JAPAN: Nature 'gathered all her forces' at this geopark, which is characterised by the book as 'a large mountainous region with a craggy coastline shaped like a crocodile's head'. One of the park features highlighted in the book is the Omuro Volcano, described as 'an example of the region's geodiversity'. The dormant 'cinder cone volcano' is covered with velvety grass, as this picture shows, and was created during an eruption 4,000 years ago. When to visit: May, October, November

IZU PENINSULA, JAPAN: Nature 'gathered all her 軍隊s' at this geopark, which is characterised by the 調書をとる／予約する as 'a large 山地の 地域 with a craggy coastline 形態／調整d like a crocodile's 長，率いる'. One of the park features 最高潮の場面d in the 調書をとる／予約する is the Omuro 火山, 述べるd as 'an example of the 地域's geodiversity'. The 活動停止中の 'cinder 反対／詐欺 火山' is covered with velvety grass, as this picture shows, and was created during an 爆発 4,000 years ago. When to visit: May, October, November

SALPAUSSELKA, FINLAND: The Salpausselka Unesco geopark is a 'land of glaciers but also of more than 800 lakes', notes the tome. Pictured here is the narrow Pulkkilanharju Esker, which stretches across Finland's second-largest lake, Paijanne. An esker is a glacial ridge, which can often 'make for lovely walks and viewpoints'

SALPAUSSELKA, FINLAND: The Salpausselka Unesco geopark is a 'land of glaciers but also of more than 800 lakes', 公式文書，認めるs the tome. Pictured here is the 狭くする Pulkkilanharju Esker, which stretches across Finland's second-largest lake, Paijanne. An esker is a glaci al 山の尾根, which can often 'make for lovely walks and viewpoints'

CAUSSES DU QUERCY, FRANCE: Home to some of the most beautiful villages in France, a starry sky like nowhere else, and thousands of years of human presence, the Causses du Quercy Unesco Global Geopark is a surprising region with much to unearth. So says the tome, adding that the area is home to mediaeval villages, including the above pictured Saint-Cirq-Lapopie - 'perched on the scarp of the Lot River and considered one of the most beautiful in France'

CAUSSES DU QUERCY, FRANCE: Home to some of the most beautiful villages in フラン, a starry sky like nowhere else, and thousands of years of human presence, the Causses du Quercy Unesco 全世界の Geopark is a surprising 地域 with much to 明らかにする. So says the tome, 追加するing that the area is home to mediaeval villages, 含むing the above pictured Saint-Cirq-Lapopie - 'perched on the scarp of the Lot River and considered one of the most beautiful in フラン'

SOBRARBE - PIRINEOS, SPAIN: This geopark, located on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees, offers 'breathtaking landscapes and 500million years of Earth's history', the book says. One highlight for visitors includes 'hiking over 1,000km (621 miles) of well-maintained trails with breathtaking views and the ever-present sound of flowing water from melting ice'. Pictured is the park's Valle de Pineta, described as 'an impressive u-shaped glacial valley'. When to visit: All year round

SOBRARBE - PIRINEOS, SPAIN: This geopark, 位置を示すd on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees, 申し込む／申し出s 'breathtaking landscapes and 500millio n years of Earth's history', the 調書をとる／予約する says. One 最高潮の場面 for 訪問者s 含むs '引き上げ（る）ing over 1,000km (621 miles) of 井戸／弁護士席-持続するd 追跡するs with breathtaking 見解（をとる）s and the ever-現在の sound of flowing water from melting ice'. Pictured is the park's Valle de Pineta, 述べるd as 'an impressive u-形態／調整d glacial valley'. When to visit: All year 一連の会議、交渉／完成する

REYKJANES, ICELAND: 'At first glance, Reykjanes' fascinating landscape seems to come straight from a science fiction movie,' Unesco writes. Located in southwest Iceland close to the capital Reykjavik, the geopark is considered 'one of the most active volcanic areas in Iceland', with hot springs, geysers and mud pools. When to visit: All year round

REYKJANES, ICELAND: 'At first ちらりと見ること, Reykjanes' fascinating landscape seems to come straight from a science fiction movie,' Unesco 令状s. 位置を示すd in 南西 アイスランド の近くに to the 資本／首都 Reykjavik, the geopark is consi dered 'one of the most active 火山の areas in アイスランド', with hot springs, geysers and mud pools. When to visit: All year 一連の会議、交渉／完成する

LONGHUSHAN, CHINA: This geopark in Jiangxi Province spans almost 1,000 km sq (386 square miles), showcasing 'stunning mountainous terrain, picturesque valleys, and majestic waterfalls', according to the tome. Pictured: Kayakers on the Luxi River, which runs through the park. When to visit: May to October

LONGHUSHAN, CHINA: This geopark in Jiangxi 州 （期間が）わたるs almost 1,000 km sq (386 square miles), showcasing '素晴らしい 山地の 地形, picturesque valleys, and majestic waterfalls', によれば the tome. Pictured: Kayakers on the Luxi River, which runs through the park. When to visit: May to October

NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS, SCOTLAND: Behold the view towards Coigach and Assynt, 'threaded with a thousand small fresh-water lochans [lakes]'. The area boasts 'ancient rock formations 3,000million years old and some of Britain's most awe-inspiring mountain and coastal landscapes', according to the book. When to visit: May to December

NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS, SCOTLAND: Behold the 見解（をとる） に向かって Coigach and Assynt, 'threaded with a thousand small fresh-water lochans [lakes]'. The area 誇るs '古代の 激しく揺する 形式s 3,000million years old and some of Britain's most awe-奮起させるing mountain and 沿岸の landscapes', によれば the 調書をとる／予約する. When to visit: May to December

TROLLFJELL UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK, NORWAY: This 'extraordinary landscape' is 'domin ated by water and thousands of small islands', according to the tome. And for centuries, this 'vast territory' has 'sparked the imagination of local populations', who believed that the stone mountains along the coast were 'living creatures that chased beautiful maidens'. These trolls, as they are known, 'have inspired dozens of legends'. When to visit: February to September

TROLLFJELL UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK, NORWAY: This '驚くべき／特命の／臨時の landscape' is '支配するd by water and thousands of small islands', によれば the tome. And for centuries, this '広大な 領土' has '誘発するd the imagination of 地元の 全住民s', who believed that the 石／投石する mountains along the coast were 'living creatures that chased beautiful maidens'. These trolls, as they are known, 'have 奮起させるd dozens of legends'. When to visit: February to September

BURREN AND CLIFFS OF MOHER, IRELAND: Featuring in the sixth Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, this geopark is certainly blockbuster-worthy. The park is 'on the route of the 2,500km (1,55-mile) Wild Atlantic Way, one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world, winding along the Irish coastline'. It is also home to the 'world-renowned' Cliffs of Moher, pictured. When to visit: All year round

BURREN AND CLIFFS OF MOHER, IRELAND: Above are the 'monumental' Cliffs of Moher, which 星／主役にする in the sixth Harry Potter film, the Half-血 Prince, and rise more than 150 metres (492ft) from the 大西洋. The 調書をとる／予約する 公式文書，認めるs that the 場所／位置 'is a 楽園 for birdwatching with up to 30,000 pairs of birds during nesting season'. The Burren, 'a 広大な 石灰岩 area', lies on 最高の，を越す of the cliffs. The geopark, 追加するs Unesco, is on the 大勝する of the 2,500km (1,553-mile) Wild 大西洋 Way 沿岸の 大勝する. When to visit: March to October?

The Unesco Global Geoparks, written by Unesco and published by Gestalten, retails at £45 ($57)

The Unesco 全世界の Geoparks, written by Unesco and published by Gestalten, 小売s at £45 ($57)

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