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Volcano Tourism in the New Kanawinka Global Geopark of Victoria and SE South Australia 305

Such monogenetic, areal basaltic fields are and would be one of the first in South America
widely distributed across the world, largely as (Risso et al, 2006).
intraplate volcanism (i.e. volcanism away from Geoparks, with their allowable large extent,
plate boundaries). Well-studied examples include and associated human and cultural values, fit well
the Auckland region of New Zealand, the Eifel with the features of small (monogenetic) volcanic
area in Germany, the Newer Volcanic Province of fields. In contrast large (strato) volcanoes are often
south-eastern Australia, the Auvergne region of more localized, and often sparsely settled, and may
south-eastern France, and the Rift valleys of East already be part of a park or reserve, and so fit best
Africa and Ethiopia. Other areas include China, with world heritage requirements. Any analysis of
Korea, Mexico, south-west United States, north- possible world heritage volcanoes, and possible
eastern Spain, Armenia, western Hungary and global geopark volcanoes, would probably suggest
southern Slovakia. Similar examples of monogenetic that this division between large and small volcanoes
volcanic activity can often be found superimposed is a good approach in planning future volcanic
on areas of current large-scale volcanism, such as heritage reserves.
Hawai‘i and Iceland.
Geoparks and volcanic regions The young volcanoes of

Some 48 geoparks are currently listed by UNESCO south-eastern Australia
but of these so far only 4 are volcanic, and are Extensive volcanic areas, both old and young, are
mostly based on small monogenetic volcanoes. features of the Australian landscape, with
The numbers of nominations for geopark status is Quaternary monogenetic (single short-lived
growing rapidly, and given UNESCO’s recent eruption) scoria cones, lava shields and flows, and
indication of increasingly limited potential for maar craters with ash deposits, found in south-
further inscriptions of volcanic sites on the world eastern Australia (Figure 20.1) and also in north-
heritage list, volcanic sites will probably be east Queensland. The young volcanic regions of
important in any future geopark nominations. In south-eastern Australia, known as the Newer
this regard, six new volcanic geoparks have been Volcanic Province, occupy broad coastal plains,
listed in China, including Wudalianchi, last active and an elevated upland to the north of the plains.
in 1721 (Dowling and Newsome, 2006, p150). Beginning about 6–7Ma ago, but mainly since
Other recently listed or proposed global geoparks 5Ma, a new volcanic province was formed, and
with volcanic values include the Giant’s Causeway nearly 400 small, monogenetic scoria cones, maars
(Ireland), and the Vulkaneifel in Germany (Frey and lava shields were built up by Strombolian/
et al, 2006). Hawaiian eruptions (Nicholls and Joyce, 1989).
In Australia the new Kanawinka Global In 1866 the large maar volcanic crater of
Geopark is part of the extensive Newer Volcanic Tower Hill in western Victoria was set aside as a
Province of south-east Australia. Significant public park, and in 1892 state legislation was
geological features and sites have been documented passed which made the Tower Hill volcano
over many years in the Newer Volcanic Province, Victoria’s first national park. Significant geological
including the internationally significant lava caves features and sites in the Newer Volcanic Province
(Joyce and Webb, 1993), and a review of the main were first discussed in Joyce and King (1980). A
eruption points has been documented (Rosengren, review of the main eruption points, sponsored
1994), sponsored jointly by the Geological Society jointly by the Geological Society of Australia and
of Australia and the National Trust (Victoria). the National Trust (Victoria) was published in
Equally, the Llancanelo and Payun Matrú Volcanic 1994 (Rosengren, 1994). Some of the other
Field together with about 800 small mafic National Trust classified landscapes in western
volcanoes near Malargüe, Mendoza (Argentina) is Victoria include Mt Elephant, Tower Hill, Mt
one of the volcanic fields on Earth that have the Leura, Lake Purrumbete, Lake Gnotuk and Lake
highest density of volcanoes. This field is suggested Bullen Merri (Figure 20.2), Lake Keilambete, and
as a potential candidate for a UNESCO geopark, the Stony Rises and Mt Porndon. Other landscapes

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