Geoparks in Japan
The Japanese islands lie at the intersection of four tectonic plates. For millions of years, this has made the archipelago a unique geological focal point, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently. Geoparks offer an opportunity for visitors to experience the diversity of geological features brought about by seismic activity, which shapes the land we live on.
[Captions]
Geological map of Japan (Geological Survey of Japan (AIST), Seamless Digital Geological Map of Japan V2, 1:200,000).
A geological map is a color-coded map of different types of rock and geological strata. The geological map of Japan is very colorful, indicating a high level of geodiversity.
Geoparks in Japan
Legend:
UNESCO Global Geopark
Japan Geopark
Geopark concept proposed