Mount Apoi Geopark, UNESCO Global Geopark in Samani, Japan
Mount Apoi Geopark is a UNESCO-designated geopark in Hokkaido featuring forested mountains with visible rock formations and mineral deposits. The landscape reveals geological structures that normally remain hidden deep underground, making the area a natural classroom for studying Earth processes.
The geological structures formed about 13 million years ago when continental plates collided, creating the Hidaka Mountains. This collision pushed material from deep within the Earth toward the surface, where it remains visible today.
The research center connects scientific work with local communities through educational programs that help people understand the area's geological story. Visitors notice how residents take pride in their landscape's distinctive rocky features and rare mineral deposits.
Hiking trails throughout the geopark lead to viewpoints and rock formations that can be examined up close. The area is best explored during dry weather when paths are easier to navigate and rock surfaces are more visible.
The geopark exposes peridotite rocks from the Earth's mantle, material that normally stays buried deep below the surface and is rarely visible anywhere on land. This direct access to subsurface material makes the location valuable for scientists studying how the Earth works internally.
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