Researchers nominate Chicamocha Canyon as geological heritage site
In the department of Santander, the Chicamocha Canyon is a totally unexplored scenario for the geoscientific community.
This impressive site could be catapulted to become one of the most transcendental sites of geological interest in the world, following its nomination to be declared a geological heritage site.
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Its importance lies in the geological evolution of this region, whose richness has been known by hundreds of researchers.
The Colombian Geological Service pointed out the research value of this area of Colombian geography: “This place has long been a point of reference for the geoscientific community of the country and different studies suggest that it could be a site of international relevance to understand the history and geological evolution of this area of the planet”, explained the institute.
El Cañón del Chicamocha podría ser uno de los sitios de patrimonio geológico más importantes del mundo. 🤩
— Servicio Geológico Colombiano (@sgcol) August 9, 2023
Abrimos este 🧵 para contarles más… pic.twitter.com/48qsYNFTeC
Geological research on the Chicamocha Canyon continues
For decades, the Chicamocha Canyon has been the subject of intense research by geologists and scientists. The conclusions of several studies suggest that this site possesses a wealth of geological information that could exceed national boundaries and have global resonance.
In view of these findings, and for some years now, groups from academia, the public sector and economic sectors of the department of Santander have been working to nominate the Chicamocha Canyon to the list of the Unesco Global Geoparks network, which includes places such as: Caminos de los Cañones del Sur (Brazil), Salpausselkä (Finland), Ries (Germany), Cefalonia-Ítaca (Greece), Mëllerdall (Luxembourg), Buzău Land (Romania), among the 195 geoparks in the world.
More recently, a team of experts from the Geological Museum and Associated Research Group conducted an expedition to the Chicamocha Canyon. Their mission went beyond exploration, as they sought to assess the conservation status of the geodiversity sites that contribute to the scientific importance of the canyon.
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Their findings and observations will form a solid basis for the aspiration to include the Chicamocha Canyon in the prestigious list of 100 geological heritage sites of international significance, an initiative led by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) for the years 2023-2024, said the Colombian Geological Survey.
This is not a new path for Colombia. In 2022 the country saw the inclusion to the Lagerstätte classification – as paleontological sites of great fossil richness and diversity are called – of marine reptiles from the Lower Cretaceous of the Upper Ricaurte and the Nevado del Ruiz Volcanic Complex in this distinguished list.
The recent visit and evaluation of the Chicamocha Canyon by the Geological Museum and Associated Research Group marks a significant moment in the quest to conserve and recognize Colombia’s invaluable geological heritage.
Beyond its scientific value, the Chicamocha Canyon presents an immense wealth in educational and cultural terms. So representative is its importance that it has been nicknamed an “open-air laboratory”, providing a natural environment that allows researchers and students to explore and understand diverse geological phenomena and processes in action.
Chicamocha Canyon: A potential geological heritage threatened by deforestation
Along the road that connects Bogotá with Bucaramanga is the imposing Chicamocha Canyon, formed by the passage of the Chicamocha River that crosses the departments of Boyacá and Santander.
The geographical area covered by the Chicamocha has ecosystems that cover five thermal floors. From its lower part, where the climate favors the flourishing of more than 400 species of plants typical of semi-arid zones, to its highest altitude, where the frailejones of the páramo can be found.
However, deforestation and changes in land use in the region threaten the stability of the land and the ecosystems that inhabit it.
This loss of tree cover has contributed to the landslide of large portions of land and has even affected the Chicamocha riverbed, said Pedro Serrato, an agrologist with the Agustín Codazzi Geographic Institute.
This is attested to by its yellow waters that reflect the sedimentation caused by erosion of the surrounding soil.
In view of this situation, the environmental authority of Santander has called the attention of the population living in the area, since it is imperative to take measures for the conservation of the Chicamocha Canyon.
The diversity of life in the Chicamocha Canyon and its value as a strategic road corridor for the country deserve a sustainable and conscious management, for which reforestation and environmental education are crucial tools to reverse the damage, said the Colombian Geological Service.
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