Current Affairs Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination

Topic: Geo-heritage Sites of Visakhapatnam

Why in News?

• The recent incident of overcrowding and reckless acts of visitors endangering the natural arch of Mangamaripeta beach, once a secluded beach, has raised concerns among geologists and heritage activists on the need to safeguard the sites of the region and establish a geo park.
• While there are 147 UNESCO Global geo parks spread across 41 countries, India is yet to have one of its own. The scope in India is immense - Visakhapatnam alone is replete with many unique sites.

Geological Sites

• Geological sites are a record of important geological phenomenon that are a key to trace the evolutionary history of earth and its changing processes.
• The term geological heritage is used for natural geological or geo-morphological features that have aesthetic, intrinsic or scientific and educational value, that provide unique insight into geological processes affecting the formation or evolution of Earth.
• Culturally significant geo heritage sites are places in which geologic features or landscapes played a role in cultural or historical events. Aesthetically significant geo heritage sites are landscapes that have a visual appeal because of their geologic features or processes.
• Geological Survey of India (GSI) declares geo heritage sites for protection and maintenance.
• Globally, geo parks are sustained through geo tourism activities like excursions, nature trails, guided tours, hiking and academic meets.

Erra Matti Dibbalu (red sand dunes)

• Among the 34 notified National Geological Heritage Monument Sites of India by the Geological Survey of India, is the Erra Matti Dibbalu or coastal red sediment mounds located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam.
• The width of the dunes vary from 200 metres to two kilometres, spread across five kilometres along the coast.
• Erra Matti Dibbalu (red sand dunes), natural rock formations at Mangamaripeta, millionyears-old Borra Caves and volcanic ash deposits said to have originated from the volcanic eruption of Toba in Indonesia 73,000 years ago near Araku.
• Such sand deposits have been reported only from three low latitude tropical regions in South Asia — the Teri Sands of Tamil Nadu, the Erra Matti Dibbalu in Andhra Pradesh and Red Coastal Sands of Sri Lanka.

Cause for Concern

• Every monsoon the sediments are washed away, turning the sea a bright red.
• Further degradation due to human interference such as digging, climbing, littering are affecting their stability and exacerbating erosion.

Measures to be Taken

• In July 2019, INTACH organised a campaign along with the Department of Tourism, Archaeology and Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority to create public awareness on geo heritage
  spots in the region.
• Adequate signage and interpretation centres are set up in the area to create awareness among tourists.
• The way forward is to engage the local community in becoming the custodians of this heritage site by making them understand the geological value.