A geopark is a unique natural area with special geological significance and natural and cultural landscapes, and serves the three objectives of conservation, education and sustained development.
A Geopark serves to conserve the unique landforms and landscapes in Hong Kong, through protecting the landform environment that provides natural habitat to many living things. Such an integrated conservation strategy is also a global trend. Therefore, we are establishing the geopark to promote landform and rock conservation.
Geoparks meeting prescribed conditions may be listed as national and global. Now, China has 182 national geoparks, with 22 designated as global, out of the 64 global geoparks in the world. We believe that the initiative to upgrade the Hong Kong Geopark to a national geopark will provide momentum for local nature conservation and will be a focal point for further action by the government and the interested parties.
Hong Kong, as part of China, may leverage on the initiative of establishing a national Geopark to display to the world its natural conservation results which Hong Kong people are proud of. The international image of Hong Kong does not have to be just a city with many buildings but can also be a natural and healthy international metropolis.
Well arranged hexagonal volcanic columns are well exposed along the coast of High Island. The magnificent hexagonal volcanic column wall at the High Island Reservoir East Dam is like a "Natural Hexagonal Column Mural", where geographical phenomena like faults, folds, twisted stone columns and vein intrusions are best appreciated at close quarters. The Tai Long Wan coast nearby showcases a breathtaking coastal landform of volcanic rocks, and justifiably rated as No. 1 of "Top Ten Hong Kong Natural Attractions" many times.
Wang Chau, Basalt Island and Bluff Island together known as the Ung Kong Group, the three islands consist of hexagonal columns, which are well exposed along the coast. The southeast-facing coastlines, attacked by the relentless waves and wind, showcase some spectacular columnar joints and precipitous cliffs. The 30m-high long sea arch at Wang Chau, the 45m-high sea arch at Basalt Island and the sea arch at Jin Island have entered the list of top four sea arches in Hong Kong.
Together known as the Ung Kong Group, Wang Chau, Basalt Island and Bluff Island consist of hexagonal columns, which are well exposed along the coast. The southeast-facing coastlines, attacked by the relentless waves and wind, showcase some spectacular columnar joints and precipitous cliffs. The 30m-high long sea arch at Wang Chau, the 45m-high sea arch at Basalt Island and the Tiu Chung Arch at Jin Island have entered the list of top four sea arches in Hong Kong.
Located on the western edge of the Sai Kung caldera, Sharp Island is covered by various volcanic rocks formed earlier than the hexagonal columns, including lava and eutaxite. In the west it is connected to a small island Kiu Tau by a tombolo made up of cobbles.
As a result of the rise in sea level 6000 to 8000 years ago, the river valleys in Double Haven were flooded, therefore forming indented shorelines with headlands and bays. Famous landforms here include Hung Shek Mun, Camp Cove and Double Island.
The rocks along the north coast of Tolo Channel and at Wong Chuk Kok Tsui are the oldest in Hong Kong. Ma Shi Chau with four sides of straits represents the sedimentary rocks formed some 280 million years ago; various igneous rocks and sedimentary rocks at Lai Chi Chong of south coast were formed 140 million years ago.
Wong Chuk Kok Tsui has the oldest rocks in Hong Kong, formed by deposits at estuarine deltas about 400 million years ago (Devonian). Port Island (Chek Chau) is best known for its red conglomerate, sandstone and siltstone. The red colour of these sedimentary rocks has resulted from the iron oxidized about 100 million years ago (late Cretaceous). The layers of those sedimentary rocks are clear and dip gently to the east and into the sea.
In geological history, Tung Ping Chau has the youngest rocks in Hong Kong which are only 55 million years old. However, its peculiar formations are composed of layers of siltstone, and form a unique sedimentary rock landscape in Hong Kong with various abrasion landforms. Famous landforms here include Dragon Diving into the Sea, Kang Lau Shek and Cham Keng Chau.
