Devonian (350-400 million years ago) thick timely sandstone is exposed in the distribution area of Geopark. Due to the gentle occurrence of rock strata and the development of vertical joints, it was influenced by internal and external geological dynamic actions such as crustal movement uplift, gravity collapse and rain erosion in the later period, forming a peculiar sandstone peak forest landscape. There are more than 3,000 stone cliffs in the park, of which 1000 are over 200 meters high. Others include Fangshan, rock walls, Tianshengqiao, canyons and other sculptural landforms, as well as karst cave landscapes developed in Triassic limestone.
The park is densely forested with rare plants such as Ginkgo biloba, Davidia involucrata, Taxus chinensis and gooseberry, which provide physical specimens for studying biological evolution.
Zhangjiajie World Geopark is located in the northwest of Hunan, China, and belongs to Wuling Mountain, a transitional zone between the northeast of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in southwest China and the middle and low mountains in northwest Hunan. Geographical location: 29 N13'18 "-29 27' 27"; East longitude11018'-1'15 ",with an altitude of 300m- 1300M and an area of 398 square kilometers. 1992, which was listed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO; In 2004, it was listed as a world geopark by UNESCO. Geoparks include sandstone peak forests, Fangshan Taizhai, Tianqiao Shimen, barrier valleys and gullies, karst platforms, karst canyons, caves, spring waterfalls, streams and lakes, sediments, structures, stratigraphic sections, fossils and other colorful geological relics. Its changeable and unpredictable landscape preserves the original natural ecological environment and ecosystem that has hardly been disturbed.
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The formation of sandstone peak forest landform in Zhangjiajie is the result of slow and intermittent uplift of crust and long-term erosion and cutting by running water since Late Tertiary. Its development and evolution has experienced four main stages: platform, Fangshan, peak wall, peak cluster, peak forest and residual forest. Fangshan and platform; At the early stage of the formation of the peak forest landform of seasonal sandstone, it is a landform with steep edges, relative height difference of tens to 400 meters and flat top, which is composed of hard and iron-bearing seasonal sandstone. Such as Tianzishan, Huangshizhai and Yaozizhai. Peak wall: With the intensification of erosion, a group of large landforms developed along the rock yoke joints form gullies, and the rocks on both sides are steep, forming peak walls. For example, Baizhang Gorge belongs to this type. Peak cluster and peak forest: flowing water constantly washes away the joints and cracks on both sides of the gully, forming peak clusters. When it is cut to a certain depth, it forms a peak forest landform composed of countless tall and steep peaks and columns. Such as Shili Gallery and Mine Cave Creek. Residual forest: After the peak forest is formed, the flowing water continuously cuts down until the base is eroded and the stone pillars collapse one after another, leaving only a few isolated peak pillars, that is, the residual forest landform is formed. With the continuation of external dynamic geological processes, the remaining forests will collapse and disappear until they die, eventually forming a new denudation landform. This landform type is located in the periphery of Devonian sandstone distribution area in Wulingyuan.
The uniqueness of geological relics
Typical landforms similar to Zhangjiajie sandstone peak forest on the earth mainly include karst stone forest landform and Danxia landform, but there are only about four landforms comparable to Zhangjiajie sandstone peak forest in the world. Malahachinji Nature Reserve in Madagascar; Mu National Park in Lunatone, Sarao; Palawan island is the home of Saman River National Park and Kaijingde Mountain in Papua New Guinea. The common characteristics of these four sword-shaped cascades are: islands or coastal environments are all distributed in tropical zones within 20 degrees north and south latitude; The development time is since the Late Tertiary, and the genesis is relatively simple, probably limestone dissolved on the surface. It has remarkable biodiversity, representing different environments and unique ecosystems of animals and plants in tropical areas, with abundant rainfall. Zhangjiajie sandstone peak forest landform is unique in the world, with the characteristics of large relative height difference, high ratio of height to nephew, high column density, soft and hard interlayer, peculiar column shape, lush vegetation, rare animals and plants, and various types. In particular, it has a unique and well-preserved standard model of peak forest, that is, platform, Fangshan, peak wall, peak forest, bee colony and residual forest, which has been perfected in this area. Therefore, from a scientific and aesthetic point of view, Zhangjiajie sandstone peak forest landform is superior to Shilin landform, Danxia landform and Denver landform in the United States in landscape and characteristics, and it is an extremely special and precious geological relic landscape in the world.
humanity history
The remains of human speech in the park area and in various foreign times, as well as the sites of major cultural events, comprehensively show the settlement, development, language and cultural origins of Tujia and Miao ethnic minorities, as well as the history of cultural exchanges with other ethnic groups and the Central Plains. For thousands of years, Tujia, Miao and other ethnic minorities have lived in special sandstone peaks and caves. The living environment of peak forests and caves has been integrated into all aspects of local life, forming a rich and colorful national culture and customs. Folklores, poems, dances, houses and festivals all reflect the long history of local people.
Resource value
Zhangjiajie sandstone peak forest landform integrates the evolution of the earth, the formation mechanism of geological landforms, unique natural beauty, typical ecological environment system, harmonious beauty of human-land coordination and colorful national culture and art, and has become a rare teaching and research base in China. Experts and scholars from China and other countries all over the world have engaged in the research of geosciences, ethnology, biology, history, ecology, folk culture, tourism development and management in the park, and accumulated rich research materials, forming a complete theoretical system of the formation mechanism and development characteristics of sandstone peak forest landforms, further enriching the research of earth science.
Protection of geological relics resources
Geological relic refers to the precious and non-renewable geological natural heritage formed and developed by internal and external geological processes during the long geological evolution of the earth. Special geological relics not only have scientific research significance, but also constitute a beautiful landscape and ecological environment and become valuable tourism resources. Zhangjiajie, a magical geological relic, is threatened by potential damage. This area is affected by today's tectonic force field, crustal uplift, flowing water erosion and valley undercutting. In the future geological and historical period, the basement of sandstone peak forest and Shizhu Peak will be further cut down, and the stability of sandstone peak forest will be threatened, the contradiction between heritage protection and tourism development, the environmental damage and pollution caused by urbanization, and the pressure brought by human development to nature, including floods and floods. Geological relic resources are the wealth of all mankind. Once damaged, it can't be recovered. Therefore, UNESCO has established a working group on geological heritage, which is responsible for protecting the global geological heritage. Zhangjiajie World Geopark is the most typical area in the world that witnessed the long evolution history of the earth with the evolution relics of sandstone peak forest, which has irreplaceable scientific significance, rarity and aesthetic value. Zhangjiajie has established a protection and management organization according to law, and at the same time has promulgated relevant laws and regulations for the protection of geological parks, such as the Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the Regulations on the Protection of Wulingyuan World Natural Heritage in Hunan Province. Of course, more importantly, we humans should consciously enhance our awareness of protecting the world's geological relics and strengthen our understanding of related knowledge! Therefore, whether you are a Zhangjiajie native or a tourist, when you realize the significance of Zhangjiajie World Geopark to all mankind at this moment, I hope you can start from yourself, from today, from this moment, and take care of the ecological environment and geological relics as much as your own life! Then Zhangjiajie World Geopark, a magnificent spectacle, will remain young and charming forever, stand proudly on our beautiful earth forever, and show its infinite brilliance to all mankind forever!
Development goal of geological park
Zhangjiajie World Geopark strengthens the protection of geological relics, landscape resources and ecosystems. Adhere to the principles of strict protection, unified management, scientific planning and sustainable utilization, take the protection of the systematicness, authenticity and integrity of geological park landscape and biodiversity as the principle, and adjust the land use according to the geological relic landscape protection zoning, so as to optimize the land use structure, and maintain the coordinated development of environmental protection, tourism industry and social economy. The Geopark will be built into a world-class Geopark integrating multidisciplinary investigation, landscape sightseeing, ecological leisure and cultural entertainment, which will promote the social and economic progress of China and the world and benefit mankind.
Sources of living things and resources
Due to geological and historical reasons, this area was not completely covered by continental glaciers during the Quaternary Glacier Period, and the surface became a refuge for plants during the Quaternary Glacier Period, so the ancient relict plant survived and became one of the most representative natural heritage sites in China flora. According to the List of Rare and Endangered Protected Plants in China, there are 57 national protected plants in the park, including Davidia involucrata 10 and 33 second-class protected plants. Third-class protected plants 14 species. Because of the great difference in natural conditions, the vertical zoning of plants is obvious, the community is complete and the ecology is stable and balanced, which provides a good habitat for wild animals and becomes a paradise for wild animals. There are national first-class protected animals such as clouded leopard and golden pheasant, and second-class protected animals such as giant salamander, macaque, pangolin, great god hunter and forest musk deer.
Zhang Jiajie five wonders
The unique seasonal sandstone peak forest in Zhangjiajie, Fengqi is known as the "Three Thousand Qifeng". These peak forests are unique in shape, rugged and different in style, which constitute the spectacular wonders of the big peak forests represented by Yubi Peak, Camel Peak and Wuzhi Peak. Or steep and straight, or beautiful and beautiful, masculinity and feminine posture coexist, pleasing to the eye and beautiful. There are 32 valleys over 2000 meters, with a total length of 85 kilometers. The most famous canyons are Jin Bianxi, Shentang Bay and Shili Gallery. The water between the peaks and valleys is beautiful, and there are dozens of flowing springs and waterfalls with a long history. The scenery is pleasant and beautiful. Its landscape types are complete, including streams, springs, lakes, ponds and waterfalls. And colorful, with the reputation of "800 miles of beautiful water". Yuanyang Waterfall rushes down from a height of several hundred meters, which is magnificent. It's spectacular, and there is one person's Yaochi Baofeng Lake. Zhangjiajie has lush forests, and Wuling pine is widely distributed and numerous, so it is called "108,000 pine". There are abundant karst caves in Dong 'ao between mountains and rivers, among which: Huanglong Cave is deep 15km, with 13 hall, 96 corridors, 3 waterfalls and 1 approach to the river. There are many stalagmites with different shapes, which are amazing. Wang Long Cave is one of the largest and oldest caves in China, with a very high level of archaeology and archaeology.