Hexigten Global Geopark
Encyclopedia
Hexigten Global Geopark is a UNESCO Global Geopark in Hexigten Banner, Chifeng
city, Inner Mongolia
, China
. Its 1,750 km2 area is contained in eight separate areas of scenic beauty and geologic significance, including volcanic, glacial, and desert features.
The park was designated a National Geopark of China by the Ministry of Land and Resources
on December 10, 2001, and as a World Geopark
by UNESCO
on February 11, 2005.
400 km north of Beijing.
It lies at the convergence of several geographic regions: the Greater Khingan
Mountains to the east, the Yan Mountains
to the south, and the Hunshandake Sandland to the southwest. The collision belt of the North China Platform and the Xingmeng Geosyncline
also runs through Hexigten.
The eight park areas are scattered throughout the area, sampling glacial, volcanic, desert, and hydrological land forms of scenic beauty and geological significance. Altogether, the park covers 1,750 km2 out of Hexigten Banner's total area of 20,673 km2.
"steep peaks") in northern Hexigten Banner is a "forest" of stone columns created by frost splitting, freezing and thawing cycles, and erosion by wind. The granite columns are unusual in their strong horizontal segmentation.
Five scenic areas in the granite forest are nicknamed
the moon castle (月亮城堡), sworn brothers (桃园结义), eagle with folded wings (雄鹰敛翅), fortress besieged (围城), and live folk entertainment (民俗生活娱乐).
mountain range, with a peak at 2029 m. Above 1500–1700 m there are "island-like' permafrost areas, remaining from the last glaciation.
s are remnants of the Quaternary, in the southeast part of Hexigten Banner. The existence of cirques and other Quaternary glacial features in Hexigten are importance evidence of the glacial history of
northern China.
.
In the southwest of Hexigten, the river forms a deep "grand canyon" which is included as one of the park areas.
Chifeng
Chifeng , also known as Ulanhad, is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It borders Xilin Gol to the north and west, Tongliao to the northeast, Chaoyang prefecture of Liaoning province to the southeast, and Chengde prefecture of Hebei province to the...
city, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Its 1,750 km2 area is contained in eight separate areas of scenic beauty and geologic significance, including volcanic, glacial, and desert features.
The park was designated a National Geopark of China by the Ministry of Land and Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources of the People's Republic of China
Ministry of Land and Resources of the People's Republic of China is a ministry under the jurisdiction of the State Council of China...
on December 10, 2001, and as a World Geopark
Geopark
A Geopark is defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in its UNESCO Geoparks International Network of Geoparks programme as follows:...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
on February 11, 2005.
Geography
The park is situated in Hexigten Banner, 210 km northwest of the urban area of Chifeng City and400 km north of Beijing.
It lies at the convergence of several geographic regions: the Greater Khingan
Greater Khingan
The Greater Khingan Range , also called the Greater Hing'an Range or Greater Hinggan Range, is a volcanic mountain range in the northeastern part of the People's Republic of China. The range extends roughly 1,200 km from north to south, narrowing towards the south...
Mountains to the east, the Yan Mountains
Yan Mountains
The Yanshan or Yan Mountains are a major mountain range north of the North China Plain, in northern Hebei Province.The range rises between the Chaobai River on the west and the famous Shanhai Pass on the east. It is made up mostly of limestone, granite and basalt. Its altitude ranges from 400 to...
to the south, and the Hunshandake Sandland to the southwest. The collision belt of the North China Platform and the Xingmeng Geosyncline
also runs through Hexigten.
The eight park areas are scattered throughout the area, sampling glacial, volcanic, desert, and hydrological land forms of scenic beauty and geological significance. Altogether, the park covers 1,750 km2 out of Hexigten Banner's total area of 20,673 km2.
Arshihaty granite forest
The Arshihaty granite forest ' onMouseout='HidePop("95316")' href="/topics/Mongolian_language">MongolianMongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
"steep peaks") in northern Hexigten Banner is a "forest" of stone columns created by frost splitting, freezing and thawing cycles, and erosion by wind. The granite columns are unusual in their strong horizontal segmentation.
Five scenic areas in the granite forest are nicknamed
the moon castle (月亮城堡), sworn brothers (桃园结义), eagle with folded wings (雄鹰敛翅), fortress besieged (围城), and live folk entertainment (民俗生活娱乐).
Qingshan granite mortars
The Qingshan granite mortars area is a landscape of glacial potholes similar to giant's kettles. These are round pits in the rock, formed by whirlpool-like swirling water during the Quaternary period. The two-square-kilometer area contains over 300 potholes ranging in size from 50 cm to a few meters, with shapes resembling pots, jars, spoons, buckets, and basins.Dali Nur volcanic landscape
Dalai Nur (Chinese 达里诺尔 or 达来诺尔) is a lake in the western part of Hexigten Banner, with several park areas near its shores. The Dalai Nur volcanic group (达里诺尔火山群) lies on the northwest shore. Volcanic features include a basalt plateau and the large "plugs" of extinct volcanos, which once formed islands in the lake when water levels were higher. The plugs are now isolated hills.Huanggangliang Quaternary glacial remnant
Mount Huanggangliang is the highest peak in the Greater KhinganGreater Khingan
The Greater Khingan Range , also called the Greater Hing'an Range or Greater Hinggan Range, is a volcanic mountain range in the northeastern part of the People's Republic of China. The range extends roughly 1,200 km from north to south, narrowing towards the south...
mountain range, with a peak at 2029 m. Above 1500–1700 m there are "island-like' permafrost areas, remaining from the last glaciation.
Reshuitang thermal springs
The park includes a mineral hot spring bath area at Reshuitang (热水塘) in the eastern part of Hexigten.Pingdingshan scenic Quaternary cirque group
The Pingdingshan (平顶山) glacial cirqueCirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
s are remnants of the Quaternary, in the southeast part of Hexigten Banner. The existence of cirques and other Quaternary glacial features in Hexigten are importance evidence of the glacial history of
northern China.
Xilamulun River canyon
The Xar Moron River flows to the northeast through Hexigten Banner. The vicinity of the Xar Moron was the original homeland of the Khitan peopleKhitan people
thumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...
.
In the southwest of Hexigten, the river forms a deep "grand canyon" which is included as one of the park areas.