MYANMAR has developed eight new geosites, totalling 23 geosites to date. Efforts are being made to recognize Mount Popa National Geopark as one of the 23 UNESCO Global Geoparks. There are 177 global geoparks in 46 countries.

“We arrange for the Mount Popa National Geopark as one of the Global Geoparks. Currently, there are 15 existing geosites and eight new out of 15 proposed geosites are recognized, and so there are 23 geosites in total. Plans are underway for the remaining,” said an official of the Department of Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration.

The proposed 15 geosites are Popa Tuff, Popa Taungkalat, Thanbo Village Fossil Wood, Kyauk Koepwint Hill, Taungnauk Hill, Kyetmauktaung Dam, Hotel Linn Museum, Lahar, Augite Andesite Stone Forest, Sinzin Pyroclastic Bed and Waterfall, Ngwetwin Hill, Hillside Village (North) Toreva Block, Myauktaw Totrsa Block, Chaungphya Ancient Iron Furnace and Royal Elephant Camp.

Among them, eight newly recognized geosites are Popa Taungkalat, Kyauk Koepwint Hill, Thanbo Village Fossil Wood, Kyetmauktaung Dam, Hotel Linn Museum, Ngwetwin Hill, Chaungphya Ancient Iron Furnace and Royal Elephant Camp.

The global geoparks exist in four ASEAN countries, and if Mount Popa National Geopark is recognized as UNESCO’s Global Geopark, it will be the fifth country possessing global geoparks.

Thitsa (MNA)/KTZH

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