UNESCO Global Geoparks are unique geological areas in which landscapes of international importance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. Their bottom-up approach combining protection with sustainable development and the involvement of local communities is becoming increasingly popular. Currently there are 161 UNESCO global geoparks in 44 countries.
Geopark Novohrad-Nógrád is one of them. Slovakia shares it with Hungary, making it the first cross-border geopark of the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.
Several geological and geomorphological attractions have been preserved in the territory of the geopark, which at the same time provide an unusual image of the landscape. The task of the organization is to preserve and present the geological, natural, ecological, archaeological, historical and cultural values of the area, and thus the development of the local economy.
Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark is actively involved in the activities of the Interdepartmental Commission of the Geoparks Network of the Slovak Republic and the Hungarian Commission for Geoparks, as well as in the activities of the UNESCO National Commissions in both countries. In 2015, the UNESCO Global Geopark was awarded the title of Novohrad-Nógrád, and in 2016 it was awarded the title of Geopark of the Slovak Republic.
The Geopark is managed on the Slovak side by the Association of Legal Entities Geopark Novohrad-Nógrád (based in Fiľakovo) and on the Hungarian side Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark Nonprofit Kft. (located in Salgótarján). Geopark members of 28 Slovak and 64 Hungarian municipalities.
The most important Slovak localities of the geopark include Fiľakovský hrad, Šomoška National Nature Reserve with the castle of the same name, stone waterfall and rocky sea, Pohanský hrad National Nature Reserve, Ragač National Nature Reserve, Hajnáč Castle Hill Nature Reserve, Steblová sbecat Nature Reserve, a cave, several former lava flows and covers, the remains of large craters and many other geological, natural and cultural-historical sites. More about the geopark: https://www.geopark.sk/en/novohrad-nograd-geopark-en/
Geoparks are supervised by the UNESCO International Geoscience and Geoparks Program (IGGP). In 2020, UNESCO designated 15 new geoparks across several continents in the global network: https://en.unesco.org/news/geopark-2020
More information about the program: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/unesco-global-geoparks/
"Somoška" stone waterfall, stone sea and castle in the Slovak part of the Geopark
