[O08-P09] A review of geosites in the Bandaisan Geopark
Keywords:Bandaisan Geopark, geosite, Oshio hot spring
It has been 7 years since the Bandaisan Geopark was designated as Japan Geopark. We are currently reviewing whether existing geosites in the area are appropriate for the geopark and trying to discover new geosites with geo-guides. Based on the results, we plan to add and remove the public geosites, to progress sustainable conservation of important geosites and to develop geo-tours with new themes.
The geosites of the Bandaisan Geopark have been selected based on the main theme of the geopark, "To deepen understanding of the birth and transition of the Bandai Volcano, in particular, the large-scale changes in the landform and natural environment due to collapses of the mountain body and debris avalanches and to learn about the influence of Mt. Bandai on people's lives and history and formation of the unique culture".
The Oshio area of Kitashiobara-mura in the northwestern part of the Bandaisan Geopark is mainly composed of the Miocene Green Tuff in the Neogene Period and has important outcrops for understanding the geological history of the period. But, because the geology is not directly related to the formation or eruptive activity of the Bandai Volcano, the area has been excluded from geosites and geo-tours in the geopark.
However, studying the geological history of the Neogene Formation, which forms the basis of the Quaternary volcanoes, provides an important opportunity to understand the plate movements, from the birth of Japan Sea through the uplift of the earth to the formation of Quaternary volcanoes. In addition, there is the Oshio hot spring in the Oshio area, which is visited by many tourists. Salt purified from the hot spring water was an important local resource supplied to the Aizu clan in the Edo period and is even now sold as "mountain salt". The "mountain salt" originates in the seawater of the Green Tuff era, and the role which the heritage of the earth achieved in the history and industry of the region can be shown through a geo-tour. For these reasons, the establishment of new geosites in the Oshio area can be attractive and significant for the geopark.
We will attempt a tour around the newly selected geosites in the Oshio area as the "Geology Day Tour" in 2019 and examine the effects and significance of the tour. Based on the results, we hope to provide a geo-tour with the story for visitors.
The geosites of the Bandaisan Geopark have been selected based on the main theme of the geopark, "To deepen understanding of the birth and transition of the Bandai Volcano, in particular, the large-scale changes in the landform and natural environment due to collapses of the mountain body and debris avalanches and to learn about the influence of Mt. Bandai on people's lives and history and formation of the unique culture".
The Oshio area of Kitashiobara-mura in the northwestern part of the Bandaisan Geopark is mainly composed of the Miocene Green Tuff in the Neogene Period and has important outcrops for understanding the geological history of the period. But, because the geology is not directly related to the formation or eruptive activity of the Bandai Volcano, the area has been excluded from geosites and geo-tours in the geopark.
However, studying the geological history of the Neogene Formation, which forms the basis of the Quaternary volcanoes, provides an important opportunity to understand the plate movements, from the birth of Japan Sea through the uplift of the earth to the formation of Quaternary volcanoes. In addition, there is the Oshio hot spring in the Oshio area, which is visited by many tourists. Salt purified from the hot spring water was an important local resource supplied to the Aizu clan in the Edo period and is even now sold as "mountain salt". The "mountain salt" originates in the seawater of the Green Tuff era, and the role which the heritage of the earth achieved in the history and industry of the region can be shown through a geo-tour. For these reasons, the establishment of new geosites in the Oshio area can be attractive and significant for the geopark.
We will attempt a tour around the newly selected geosites in the Oshio area as the "Geology Day Tour" in 2019 and examine the effects and significance of the tour. Based on the results, we hope to provide a geo-tour with the story for visitors.