Volcanoes and Rocks (Exhibition was ended)

Volcano is at once familiar and strange to people. Volcanic activities wreck havoc as well as create various natural resources and special volcanic landforms.

Perhaps many local people only see volcanoes in books or documentaries and have never thought of what they have to do with Hong Kong. Believe it or not, there were several volcanoes that underwent massive volcanic eruptions in this region from 160 to 140 million years ago (when the dinosaurs ruled the Earth).  These volcanic eruptions, which were triggered by tectonic movements, had a far-reaching influence in shaping the area we live in today. These volcanic eruptions were accompanied by extensive magmatic intrusion. The massive igneous rocks that were formed account for 85% of the rocks that make up Hong Kong today.

In fact, volcanic activities have left their marks throughout Hong Kong and lots of landforms we see now are results of volcanic activities. In particular, the most spectacular is hexagonal columns in Sai Kung.  Besides making a trip to the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region in Hong Kong Global Geopark of China, public can closely examine the various kinds of igneous rocks and explore the different kinds of volcanoes activities in the Hong Kong Science Museum.

Date: 12.12.2011 – 7.2.2012
Venue: Main Lobby, Hong Kong Science Museum
Address : 2 Science Museum Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Free admission

http://www.map.gov.hk/static/z/en/ZB55Vce9Uu.html

Hexagonal rock column's diameter is about 2 m in Bluff Island	High hexagonal rock columns in Po Pin Chau

Hong Kong Global Geopark of China

Although Hong Kong is a bustling world financial centre, it has preserved a large area of tranquil, unspoilt countryside. Hong Kong’s 50-square-kilometre geopark is rather small as comparing with other geoparks around the world, but its proximity to the urban area makes it very convenient to visit for residents and tourists alike.  The various geosites are only a few tens of kilometres from the city centre and can be accessed by a number of different forms of public transport. Best of all, despite their close proximity to the densely packed, modern skyscrapers in the city centre, the geo-wonders of our geopark remain amazingly well preserved.

This seminar will discuss the endeavor to make the best use of the geopark’s proximity to the urban area to develop a nature heritage building project to promote  the newly designated  global status of Hong Kong Global Geopark of China.

Speaker：Dr. Yeung Ka Ming (Senior Geopark Officer, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department)

Date：17.12.2011 (Saturday)
Time：11:30am -12:30pm
Language：Cantonese
Venue : Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum

Free admission on first come, first served basis.