Hungarian Geological Site Featured on List of World’s Most Significant Locations
A geological site in the Bakony-Balaton Uplands has recently gained international recognition for its unique features. The site, known for its “inverted landscape” of Plio-Pleistocene phreatomagmatic monogenetic volcanic fields, has been selected by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) as one of the top 200 geological heritage sites globally.
The announcement was made by the Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate, revealing that the site in Veszprém County, Hungary, is the only representative from the country on the IUGS list. This recognition came at the 37th International Geological Congress held in South Korea, where the IUGS expanded its list of the world’s top geological heritage sites.
The Bakony-Balaton Uplands volcanic region is known for its unique volcanic activity. The molten rock that erupted to the surface interacted with water, resulting in violent steam explosions known as phreatomagmatic eruptions. These monogenetic volcanoes had a single eruptive event, leading to the creation of distinctive volcanic hills known as “witness hills.”
The volcanoes in the Tapolca Basin were active millions of years ago during the Plio-Pleistocene epoch. Erosion over time sculpted these witness hills, which do not represent former volcanic shapes but rather the remnants of eroded landscapes. The tightly clustered phreatomagmatic volcanoes, once filled with lava, are a rare sight globally, further highlighting the unique geological value of the site.
The IUGS’s recognition of this geological site in the Bakony-Balaton Uplands underscores its importance in the global geological heritage. Visitors and researchers alike can now appreciate the extraordinary features that make this site stand out on a worldwide scale.
