Copper Coast Geopark
The Copper Coast Geopark is a designated area comprising a stretch of the southern coast of Ireland in County Waterford, extending for some 25 km of coastline from Kilfarrasy in the east to Stradbally in the west. It was the first geopark to be designated in the country.[1]
History
The "Copper Coast" evolved over 460 million years after it was formed by volcanic activity in the Ordovician period. The oldest felsic volcanic rocks have intrusive elements and are interspersed with shales. Sedimentary rocks from 370 to 360 Mya can be seen as reddish-brown conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones and shales. After a wide gap in geological time, the next exposed sequences are from the Quaternary period, and consist of unconsolidated tills, boulder clays and deposits of sand and gravel.[2]
The geopark encompasses about 25 km (16 mi) of coastline south of the
Panorama
Features
This geologically diverse area contains records of
Organisation
The geopark is overseen by a charitable company, with voluntary local and expert directors, and a staff of a part-time manager and a geologist, supported by volunteer guides, and community employment workers from Solas and Tus.[4]
References
- ^ "Copper Coast Geopark: History". Copper Coast Geopark. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Copper Coast | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ "Copper Coast Geopark". Copper Coast Geopark. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ "Copper Coast Geopark: Management and governance". Copper Coast Geopark. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
External links
Media related to Copper Coast Geopark at Wikimedia Commons