100 Great Geosites

Something which has certainly sparked my interest since it was announced in October 2014, was the launch of 100 Great Geosites spanning the UK and Ireland by the Geological Society. As a keen field geologist, I am excited to hear that there is finally an interactive map to find sites of geological importance on your doorstep. Categories vary from economic perspectives such as mines, to spectacular structures and extinct super-volcanoes all within a drivable distance.


Millook Haven - chevron folds in the cliff face
Photographed by Chris Hill

The launch of the Geosites will be incredibly educational to all ages and backgrounds. It is important to learn about your geological surroundings and to understand events of the past to truly appreciate the unknowns of the future such as earthquakes and volcanoes which can be applied to a global scale. These sites also encompass other aspects such as biology as fossils can be great indicators of palaeoenvironments of the geological past. The Port Askaig Formation on Islay is thought to represent the Snowball Earth theory which proposes Earth’s surface was once frozen and is thought to have triggered the evolution of multi-cellular life. Each site has it’s own significant story.

All that I can say is... This certainly calls for a summer roadtrip!

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