Cliffs of Moher and the Burren named in Top 100 of world famous geological sites
North Clare region joins Vesuvius volcano, Yosemite Valley and The Dead Sea
The Burren and Cliffs of Moher have joined Vesuvius volcano, Yosemite Valley and The Dead Sea in being designated a Geological Heritage Site in a prestigious programme managed by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
The “Carboniferous evolution of The Burren and Cliffs of Moher” was named in the list of the Second 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites at the 37th International Geological Congress in Busan, Republic of Korea.
More than 700 experts from 80 nations and 16 international organisations contributed to the selection process which has given official recognition to the world’s best demonstrations of geologic features.
The County Clare geological site’s inclusion on the list follows its nomination by Dr. Eamon Doyle, Geologist with the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.
Dr. Doyle explained that the Burren and Cliffs of Moher’s inclusion in the “Second 100” was based on the site being “one of the most complete sections with Mississippian limestones in exceptional karst landscapes and Pennsylvanian deltaics in spectacular sea cliffs.”
“This is a fantastic honour for the Geopark and to all interested in Irish geology considering the Burren and Cliffs of Moher is only the second entry from the island of Ireland included in the two Top 100 lists, with Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim being named in the First 100 in 2022,” he added.
“I would like to acknowledge the support of Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) and Professor Patrick Wyse Jackson of Trinity College Dublin, who is the IUGS representative in Ireland, for supporting the application,” concluded Dr. Doyle.
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