The Sesia Val Grande Geopark Where stones become

The Sesia Val Grande Geopark Where stones become culture Ilaria Selvaggio – Sesia Val Grande Geopark Association Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

The Sesia Val Grande Geopark The name of the area represents both two neighbouring territories, with cores in two Alpine valleys, the Val Grande, and the Sesia Valley. The two territories share the same geological heritage and the same desire to protect and increase the value of their natural and cultural heritage. Ph. Ilaria Selvaggio Ph. Giancarlo Martini Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

The geopark: some info Municipalities: 109 Total surface area: 2202 km 2 Population: 192. 616 inhabitants Natural parks: 3 Natura 2000 network: 12 World Heritage list (UNESCO): Sacro Monte of Varallo and Trinità of Ghiffa Geosites: 88 Geosites with public interpretation: 48 Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

The Val Grande National Park and its surroundings The geopark The Sesia Valley Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

Geology of the area: a travel from the deep crust to the surface Geological features internationally renown and with world-class scientific significance Presence of a wide range of crustal levels, from depths as great as 25 to 30 km to the surface The signs of an explosive eruption of a supervolcano at the surface of the earth 282 million years ago Geomorphological processes and structures, above all the presence of glaciers, in the past and in the present Ph. Esponenziale Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

The geopark: geology and more! The Val Grande National Park The largest wilderness area in Italy, but also an outdoor museum of the ancient civilization of the Alps: a place where the nature becomes the master Ph. Claudio Venturini Delsolaro Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

The geopark: geology and more! The so called Sesia supervolcano: A fossil supervolcano, 300 millions years old, and its deep magmatic system, revealed by the tectonic movements that formed the Alps Pietro Fabris, Campi Flegrei, (painted around 1776) Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

The geopark: geology and more! The Monte Fenera Natural park The only place in the Sesia valley where we can find carbonatic rocks and caves. It is a very important archaeological and paleontological place: Neanderthal man (Homo neanderthalensis) presence and Cave bear (Ursus Spelaeus) Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

The geopark: geology and more! The High Sesia and Strona Valleys Natural Park The highest protected area in Europe; during centuries the glaciers have been the most important presence in the Sesia valley and they deeply influenced the shapes of the landscape. Ph. Ilaria Selvaggio Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

The geopark: geology and more! The Sacred Mounts of Varallo, Ghiffa and Domodossola, UNESCO World Heritage The Sacred Mounts are groups of chapels and other architectural edifices constructed in the 16 th and 17 th centuries, dedicated to different aspects of the Christian faith. In addition to their symbolic, spiritual an artistic significance, they also are integrated in natural and scenic environments Ph. Ilaria Selvaggio Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

Sesia val Grande geopark: the establishment 2011: 2013 The Sesia Val Grande Geopark joins the Geopark Network 2012: The Supervulcano Association and the Val Grande National Park sign an agreement to work together in order to join the Geopark Network The association and the park manage together the geopark Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

The management from 2017 Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

Where we will go: On Tuesday and Wednesday we will visit this area Today we are here! Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

Where we will go on Tuesday and Wednesday: We will visit the Vigezzo valley: the surroundings of the village of Malesco and the Loana valley Ph. Alessandro Vecchio We will move by bus and walking Ph. Ilaria Selvaggio If the weather is good we will work and eat on field Ph. Ilaria Selvaggio Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

What we will experience on Tuesday and Wednesday: Chimney sweep museum Production of lime in the Loana Valley Geomorphology in the Loana Valley Ph Sven Türck Ph Lon&Queta Ph Ilaria Selvaggio Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

What we will experience on tuesday and wednesday: The flood on 1978 in the Vigezzo valley The extraction and use of the soapstone in the area Ph Ilaria Selvaggio Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

What is the goal of the experience These activities draw attention to the importance of the scientific researches, to better understand the variations of the climate. We also learn about old handcrafts related with the georesources of the area. It is necessary to study the past and the present, to plan actions for humans future. Are we ready for the challenge? Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

What to bring with you on field • Adequate shoes for walking on paths • Packet lunch • Water to drink • A pen • Comfortable and adequate clothes • A k-way / umbrella in case of rain • If you have a little backpack is more confortable than a bag • Sun hat • Sun glasses • Sunscreen Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home

Enjoy your stay! Photo credits: Tullio Bagnati Pierino Roncali Cristina Movalli Ilaria Selvaggio Tito. Princisvalle Claudio Venturini Delsolaro Italy, May 14 th – 18 th 2018 Geoheritage and climate change opening the secrets of home