About the Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Project

A: “Geoheritage site” is … an informal term used to characterize a geologic site that demonstrates the societal values connected directly to the geology underfoot. Many geologic sites have played a significant role in impacting society through scientific discovery, geologic mapping and research, so they have great potential as outdoor classrooms, providing place-based opportunities for formal and informal geoscience education.—Christina DeVera

A: As a field geologist for more than 50 years, I’ve enjoyed, appreciated, studied and puzzled over some of the planet’s most interesting [geology] on six continents. Some of these sites are inspiring, beautiful, poetic and often hard to figure out [in terms of] how they formed. They also are often not well known or valued.

Having the USGS step up and formulate a project like Geoheritage Sites of the Nation is a beginning to educating our citizens about these special geological features. Introducing concepts like geodiversity and geoconservation to the public is an important role for the USGS, whose founding charter is to map the geological resources of the nation. What we appreciate, we value. What we value, we seek to protect and manage accordingly.—Dr. Tom Casadevall

A: What makes these geosites special is the specific human connection to those places. These sites have cultural connections that continue to evolve along with our society. They are locations of ancestral homelands as well as the backdrop to stories and folklore passed down from generation to generation. They provide economic opportunities from our natural resources and geo-tourism, and they inspire us to re-create them through various art mediums. They are places that draw us in through their aesthetic value—motivating us to get out in nature.—Christina DeVera

A: Five geoheritage values—scientific, educational, cultural, economic and aesthetic—provided the framework for the selection criteria. We selected one geologic feature [on federal public lands] in each state, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories that demonstrate these values. We also took geodiversity—the variety of rocks, fossils, landforms and natural processes that create the abiotic backbone of nature—and accessibility of the sites into consideration.—Christina DeVera

A: It all started with my first visit to the Chengjiang Fossil Site in Yunnan Province, China. [It is a] UNESCO World Heritage site featuring extremely well-preserved hard skeletons and entirely soft-bodied organisms that inhabited the ocean during the early Cambrian, 530 million years ago. The site preserves the time when the diversity and complexity of life on Earth underwent a rapid evolution. And it was awe inspiring.

So, when the USGS Geoheritage Sites of the Nation project became a reality, I jumped at the chance to play a part in a new project designed to educate and inspire not only scientists, but also teachers, students and the public about the wonders and joy of our own nation’s iconic geology [similar to what the Chengjiang Fossil Site does in China]—and what it can teach us about the Earth.—Dr. Jingle Ruppert

A: Geology touches every aspect of our lives, whether it’s a unique habitat for a specialized species; natural resources that can be found in our cell phones, cars and homes; or a special place in nature that makes you feel at peace.

[We want to] use geoheritages as a platform to reach an audience beyond that of scientists and researchers, broadening the relevance of these geological sites [to the public] through our shared histories. Geoheritage has the potential to inspire future geoscientists … and provide the American people with a strong sense of place across the beautiful landscapes that we call home.—Christina DeVera