Araripe UNESCO Global Geopark

“The Araripe UNESCO Global Geopark holds one of the largest deposits of fossils from Lower Cretaceous in Brazil and in the world”

Celebrating Earth Heritage

The Araripe UNESCO Global Geopark is located in the Araripe Basin, which is considered the largest sedimentary basin in the Brazilian Northeast inland extending into the South of Ceará State, Pernambuco´s northwest and Piaui´s east. The Araripe Plateau is its main distinction, in terms of relief. The geological heritage of the Geopark is characterized by important geological records from the Lower Cretaceous period between 90 and 150 million years ago, especially in its paleontological content. The preservation of this vast and rich heritage of fossils in the region was caused by unique conditions during the geological evolution of Araripe Basin, especially in the Cretaceous. The paleobiology reveals great diversity, including silicified trunks, impressions of ferns, conifers and flowering plants, foraminifera, mollusks, arthropods (ostracódios, spiders, scorpions and insects), fish (sharks, rays, bony fishes and many celacantinos), amphibians and reptiles (turtles, lizards, crocodilians and pterosaurs). Sedimentary deposits preserve a great diversity of rocks (limestones, claystones, sandstones, thick deposits of gypsum) that are a record of geological environments that existed in this region. In Araripe UNESCO Global Geopark there are nine geosites. Each geosite characterizes a diferent period of this region’s geological time. Among Araripe UNESCO Global Geopark geosites, some have relevant scientific interest, such as the geosites Parque do Pterossauros, Pedra Cariri, and Floresta Petrificada do Cariri. Others are distinct for having, in addition to the geological interest, historical and cultural values, such as the geosites Colina do Horto, Ponte de Pedra, Cachoeira de Missão Velha and Pontal de Santa Cruz; and others for the high ecological interest, such as geosites Riacho do Meio and Batateiras.

Characteristics

Designation date
2015
Country(ies)
Transnational
No
Area (ha)
378,900
Population
539,145
Density
174
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