Inspectors from UNESCO traversing the geopark
**Celebrating a Decade of Geological Wonders: The Harz, Braunschweiger Land, and Ostfalen Geopark's 10th Anniversary Revalidation**
The Harz, Braunschweiger Land, and Ostfalen Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark, is commemorating its 10th anniversary this year with a significant revalidation process. This event, which takes place every four years, is a crucial step to ensure the geopark continues to meet UNESCO's high standards.
The revalidation tour, which took place from June 30 to July 4, 2025, was accompanied by Dr. Gosta Hoffmann from the German UNESCO Commission and featured various notable locations. The journey began at the Jurassic Sea Schandelah, a site that offers nature trails and information boards, providing visitors with a glimpse into the primeval marine world from around 180 million years ago. The Geopoint here boasts exceptionally well-preserved fossils, including ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and pterosaurs.
The former clay pit Willershausen was another stop on the tour, a site where over 50,000 fossils have been discovered. The Roman battlefield Harzhorn Wiershausen and the Kaiserpfalz Werla near Schladen, a geologically exposed hill plateau with a rich historical background, were also part of the tour.
The newly designed "cattle stalls" on the heights trail in Rothesütte were inaugurated, and the Geopark Information Center at the Baumwipfelpfad in Bad Harzburg was ceremonially opened during the revalidation. The Geopark Information Center Torfhaus in the Harz National Park was also visited.
One of the highlights of the tour was the Teufelsmauer bei Weddersleben, a significant National Geotope. The journey concluded at Silberhütte, where former industrial areas have been re-natured.
The revalidation process for UNESCO Global Geoparks is a crucial step to ensure these geoparks continue to meet the standards set by UNESCO. This process involves an evaluation to confirm that the geopark maintains its status as a territory of excellence, with ongoing compliance with UNESCO's requirements, which include geological uniqueness, community engagement, and sustainable development efforts.
For specific details about the 2025 revalidation highlights for the Harz, Braunschweiger Land, and Ostfalen Geopark, it would be necessary to consult local or official UNESCO sources directly. However, the geopark's successful revalidation is a testament to its commitment to preserving and showcasing its geological and historical wonders for visitors to enjoy.
[1] [UNESCO Global Geoparks](https://en.unesco.org/geopark/harz-braunschweiger-land-ostfalen-hbl) [2] [UNESCO Global Geoparks: Criteria](https://en.unesco.org/geopark/criteria) [3] [Karawanken-Karavanke Geopark](https://en.unesco.org/geopark/karawanken-karavanke)
The revalidation tour, led by Dr. Gosta Hoffmann from the German UNESCO Commission, showcased the lifestyle and travel opportunities within the Harz, Braunschweiger Land, and Ostfalen Geopark, with stops at environmental-science sites such as the Jurassic Sea Schandelah and the former clay pit Willershausen. The tour highlighted the park's commitment to sustainable development efforts and its ongoing preservation of geological wonders for visitors.
The successful revalidation of the Harz, Braunschweiger Land, and Ostfalen Geopark underscores the importance of science in understanding and appreciating the park's geological and historical wonders, as it continues to meet UNESCO's high standards for Global Geoparks.
