Geography and You - Issue 136 - 137, 2019

In this issue

The 136-137th issue of G’nY is devoted to the Geoheritage sites of India. India’s geological diversity is as rich as its cultural diversity. These geosites act as window to the past Earth processes and have great educational value. As such eminent geoscientists have written articles on various geoheritage sites spread across the country for the earth lovers. These sites have great potential to promote geotourism in India.

Conserving Indian Geoheritage: The Geopark Approach

Through a balanced blend of science, culture, education and tourism, geopark networks across the world are successfully improving the socio-economic condition of communities, thereby contributing to sustainable development of the region. India, with numerous geosites of significance, needs to learn from experiences world over and take a leap of faith to build its first global geopark.

6 mins

Stromatolites - The Building Blocks Of Life

Stromatolites record the evolutionary signature of earliest life forms on Earth. The prolific growth of stromatolites found in carbonate rocks were deposited between 3900 and 541 million years ago. The cyanobacteria, responsible for the formation of stromatolites obtained their energy through photosynthesis, thus utilising carbon dioxide from water and rocks—liberating large quantities of oxygen in return. India, fortunately, has extensive stromatolites deposits in the limestone and phosphate facies providing a natural laboratory for the study of the history of earth and it’s evolving environment.

6 mins

Ladakh: The India-Eurasia Collision Region

One of the most sought-after tourist destinations, the Trans-himalayan region of Ladakh also bears significant geoscientific importance with rock records dating back to the India– Eurasia plate collision. Moreover, the history of the evolution of the Great himalaya is also enshrined in its varied facies. a heightened effort towards the conservation of these rich geological sites must be made by developing a geopark that can help reveal to the masses the rich, and often overlooked geological history of the region.

6 mins

Erra Matti Dibbalu: Coastal Red Sand Dunes Of Visakhapatnam

Picturesque and rare, the Late Quaternary red Sand Dunes—Erra Matti Dibbalu is spread over 10 sq km between the coasts of Visakhapatnam and Beemunipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. owing to its geological significance, the Geological Survey of India declared it as a National Geoheritage Site in 2014 while state government notified it as a Protected Area in 2016. Attempts are now underway to establish a Visakhapatnam Geopark by combining several geological and cultural sites in the region.

4 mins

The Cliffs Of Varkala

The only cliff geoheritage site recognised as a national Geological Monument—the Varkala lies about 55 km northwest of Thiruvananthapuram in kerala. The linear wave-cut cliffs and beaches have a vibrant cultural heritage and serve as a major tourist attraction. However, unmanaged anthropogenic activity and intense erosion are pushing the cliffs landwards.

4 mins

Siwalik Hills A Storehouse Of Extinct Mammals

The Siwalik hills are known to be a storehouse of fossil mammals. The rocks entomb a variety of fossils of extinct mammals ranging in age from 16 to 6 million years. Important groups of mammals at various evolutionary stages which thrived during the deposition of the Siwalik rock strata are elephants, horses, cats, cattle, deer, giraffes, rats, pigs, hippopotamus, rhinoceroses and many others.

5 mins

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Geography and You Magazine Description:

G'nY or Geography and You, is a semi-scientific research based magazine that is being published from New Delhi for 15 years now. One of its kind in the nation, the magazine deals with issues that are pertinent to south Asia, and India in particular. The editorial coverage encompasses people, places, environment, science and technology , with an emphasis on human involvement in a climate change scenario. Major topics include nature, ecology, economics, data and its interpretation, GIS based studies, extreme events, geographical thought, and more. G'nY today is appreciated and valued in India and abroad for its lucid in-depth factually correct articles, which is accompanied with vivid and large photographs.