Yellowstone one of first Geological Heritage Sites by International Union of Geological Sciences

Jamie Farrell presents Yellowstone as one of the first 100 International Union of Geological Sciences Geological Heritage Sites during the 60th anniversary IUGS meeting in Zumaia, Spain, in October, 2022. 

Marjorie Chan, Courtesy photo

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Jamie Farrell, assistant research professor with the University of Utah Seismograph Stations and chief seismologist of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.

Yellowstone became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 — in fact, Yellowstone and Mesa Verde National Parks were the first two such sites in the United States. Currently, Yellowstone is one of 24 World Heritage Sites in the U.S. and one of 1,154 sites worldwide.

In its synopsis on why Yellowstone was chosen as a World Heritage Site, UNESCO stated, “Yellowstone National Park is a protected area showcasing significant geological phenomena and processes. It is also a unique manifestation of geothermal forces, natural beauty and wild ecosystems where rare and endangered species thrive. As the site of one of the few remaining intact large ecosystems

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