The Central Catalonia UNESCO Global Geopark, located in the heart
of Catalonia, contains numerous geological and mining heritage sites, as well a
strong human presence, which has given this territory a strong personality,
with a great culture and traditions.
Over 36 million years ago, across much of Catalonia, there was a
sea which disappeared and evaporated with the rise of the Pyrenees. This
process left spectacular rock formations and rich natural resources, which
defined the landscape and the society of the territory of the Central Catalonia
UNESCO Global Geopark. Rocks are essentially sedimentary and from Eocene and
early Oligocene ages and were deposited first in marine environments and after
being isolated from the sea (about 37 million years ago), with fluvio‐lacustrine sediments. The
Catalan Potassic Basin, the end of the marine basin, is an example of world
relevance of the sedimentation of marine evaporitic rocks, with minerals such
as halite (common salt) and sylvite (potash), formed 37 million years ago in
the tectonic context of the rising of the Pyrenees. Furthermore, the territory
also has unique elements internationally recognized such as the mountains of
Montserrat and Sant Llorenç del Munt (ancient littoral fan deltas). Others are
karstic elements such as Saltpetre Caves and El Toll Caves, the latter with
important prehistoric and faunistic and human remains. The most southerly
manifestations of the Pyrenean tectonics, is apparent in a representative
geomorphology and important findings of Quaternary terrestrial vertebrate
fossils in the fluvial terraces, among others.
The UNESCO Global Geopark includes 30 municipalities from the
Bages county, 5 from de Moianès county at the east, and one municipality
belonging to Baix Llobregat county bordering from the south. The population is
around 188.000 inhabitants, with a density of ca. 140 inhabitants per km2 (2009
census).
The Central Catalonia UNESCO Global Geopark has peculiarities such
as the Toll and Saltpeter caves, Montserrat and Sant Llorenç de Munt, two
Nature Parks with an identifying landscape, a geology museum that goes beyond a
classical museum, in showing the use of geological materials to people as a
part of the 46 sites of geological and mining interest, in a land rich in
cultural and historical heritage, including medieval villages and Romanesque
art. There are several interpretation and information centres in the UNESCO
Global Geopark welcoming the visitors and coordinating different geo‐activities. Each one of
them also carries out educational programmes related to geology and the UNESCO
Global Geopark. Moreover, teachers have the support of an Educational Centre
that is creating and leading activities on fostering the territory, environment
and geology. The Central Catalonia UNESCO Global Geopark works with schools and
universities in order to contribute to the sustainability culture and research
and promotes the conservation of its geologic and mining resources.
The Central Catalonia UNESCO Global Geopark is a unifying project
that highlights the geological and mining attractions of the area, as well as the
tourist assets under a common denominator, geotourism, with an interesting and
high quality tourist offer, integrating culture, nature, geology, mining and
gastronomy. Geotourism must be understood as the activity that supports, or
even improves the geological character of the territory, including its culture,
environment, heritage and the well-being of its residents. The UNESCO Global
Geopark takes advantage of the force of geotourism to economically and socially
stimulate the whole territory for a more balanced development. Public and
private initiatives are related to values of the territory and promote economic
sustainability (stakeholders’ formation, local products, crafts, cuisine,
branding, etc.). The UNESCO Global Geopark fosters research, and also fosters
awareness of the values of local heritage (natural and cultural) and specially
of the geological heritage. It further aims to reduce the loss of the young rural
population who used to migrate to cities. The idea of sustainable improvement
allows a development based on the identifying of of the
territory's own characteristics.