Famenne-Ardenne UNESCO Global Geopark

“The largest number of karstic phenomena in Belgium ánd in Europe”

Celebrating Earth Heritage

Famenne - Ardenne UNESCO Global Geopark is located in southern Belgium, in the region of Wallonia. Three distinctive units mark the landscape: the northern Famenne, a large depression with schistose substratum, the southern Ardennes, a vast plateau mainly composed of sandstone rocks and, the central ‘Calestienne’, a calcareous bedrock topography rich in karst phenomena. The geological formations date from the Paleozoic (541 to 251 million years ago) where sandstone, limestone and clay were deposited in a marine environment according to the climate and the proximity of the continent. These deposits were folded during the formation of the Hercynian mountain range (around 295 million years ago) and then flattened in the Meso-Cenozoic. The Ardennes consist of lower Devonian sandstones (419 to 393 million years old). These rocks create a distinct relief in the southern landscape of the Geopark defined by the term "Ardennes plateau" and it includes the highest relief of the Geopark (560 m). The Central ‘Calestienne’ is composed of Middle Devonian limestones (393 to 383 million years old) perforated with karstic channels and punctuated by cliffs. Finally, the northern schists associated with the vast Famenne depression, date from the Upper Devonian (383 to 359 million years ago). The Famenne also incorporates in the N-E part of the Geopark some synclines of Carboniferous limestones (359-331 million years ago). This juxtaposition of lithologies bestows the region with a contrasting relief directly related to the nature of the substrate. Belgium has been a pioneer in the study of stratigraphy and Paleozoic palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Concentrated limestones in the center of the territory are affected by intense karstification, which make the Geopark a region of Europe particularly dense karst phenomena. Its karst is emblematic with the disappearance and reappearance of rivers, the presence of dry valleys and the existence of caves and remarkable sinkholes. The caves of Han, Rochefort and Hotton are exceptional and of international reputation not only in terms of tourism but also due to their wealth of scientific studies. Finally, the geological characteristics and the existence of karst are intimately linked to human activities such as limestone exploitation, nature tourism and the production of the famous "Trappiste de Rochefort" beer. Human activities have shaped the landscape since ancient times. The limestone grasslands rich in biodiversity are an emblematic expression of this.

Characteristics

Designation date
2018
Country(ies)
Transnational
No
Area (ha)
91,500
Population
67,460
Density
73
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