Making Cyprus: create the Troodos ophiolite and lift it up
In my first post about Cyprus, I introduced some basics about its geologic and human history (https://landscapes-revealed.net/cyprus-a-pop-up-island-between-converging-plates/). In my third post about Cyprus, I described the features found in the Troodos Geopark (https://landscapes-revealed.net/troodos-unesco-global-geopark-in-cyprus/). In this post, I'll explain the geology of the Geopark—how the ophiolite sequence that makes up the park was created and how it got lifted up to...
Troodos UNESCO Global Geopark in Cyprus
In 2015, the Troodos Geopark was officially included in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. Located in the central mountains of Cyprus, the Geopark covers an area of about 137,000 hectares or 1,147 km2 (443 miles2). It occupies about 45% of the total area of the Troodos mountain range and 15% of the total area of Cyprus. Elevations range from 300 m (984...
Nearly 6,000 years of Cypriot wine making
The history of winemaking in Cyprus can be traced back nearly 6,000 years. In 2005, a team of archeologists unearthed fragments of round flasks that were dated to the Chalcolithic period. These unwashed pottery fragments showed traces of tartaric acid (a component of wine), proving that the 5,500-year-old vases were used for wine. This provided evidence that the first wines...
Cyprus: a pop-up island between converging plates
We are now in Cyprus, an island located near the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean is a remnant of the long-lived Tethys Ocean that has been mostly consumed by subduction and other processes as the African and Eurasian plates converged over millions of years. Past posts have described the mountains formed by these converging plates in other...
Aurora Borealis: geomagnetics made visible
The main reason we're here in Iceland for three weeks in winter is because, for his birthday trip, Jay wanted to see and photograph the Aurora Borealis. Fortunately, we have been successful! During the first two weeks we were here, there were many cloudy skies and no chance to view lights in the northern skies, although we still enjoyed other...
Iceland’s 2024 volcanic eruptions—threats to Grindavik and Blue Lagoon
In my last post, I described the flows that emitted from the Fagradalsfjall fissure during the 2012-23 eruptions that heralded a new period of active volcanism in the Reykjanes Volcanic Belt: https://landscapes-revealed.net/return-to-iceland-viewing-lava-from-the-2021-23-eruptions/. At the end of 2023, volcanic eruptions began in a new place. They continued until the end of 2024, and will likely continue in 2025. Background about the...
Return to Iceland—viewing lava from the 2021–23 eruptions
In July 2022, I visited Iceland for the first time with a group of geologists. On August 15, 19, and 20, I posted blogs about this visit. These posts can be found by date or by selecting "Iceland" under Categories. I'll also refer to these posts below. I've now returned in winter with Jay, who wanted to celebrate his big...
Castles, temples and power rocks
I'm back home in Oregon, but can't leave the topic of Japan without revisiting some of the sites Japan is most famous for—castles and temples. At these sites, we were impressed by the intentional choice and position of rocks, often carried over great distances and implying symbolic meaning and power. Here is a sampling. Castle of the Tokugawa shogunate in...
Tateyama Alpine Route in ten stages
In the early 1970’s, a 37 km (23 mile) long east–west route was created in the northern part of the Northern Japan Alps. This Alpine Route reaches an elevation of 2450 m (8,000 ft) and provides access to impressive mountain scenery. Although the infrastructure is somewhat dated, the route remains a popular tourist activity. To preserve the natural setting and...
Kamikoche—Japan’s Yosemite Valley
Kamikoche Valley is not bordered by glacially-scoured granite walls like Yosemite Valley, but it is a wildly popular site within the Chubu-sangaku National Park. As in Yosemite National Park, most visitors go to the valley, but there is also an extensive network of higher-elevation trails for hiking and backpacking. Also like Yosemite, the area has an interesting geologic history. Although...
Walking the Nakasendo, an ancient (Edo-era) road
Nakasendo (meaning Central Mountain Route), is where Samurai warriors and other officials walked, starting more than 400 years ago. This road served as a vital artery for trade, communication, and cultural exchange among the central regions of Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868) when warring fiefdoms had been united under the Shogun Tokugawa. If you watched the recent TV series...
Volcanoes, onsens, and Japan’s first geopark
Hanging out around active volcanoes, and the calderas of volcanoes that previously blew themselves up, has certain advantages. One clear benefit is that the hot magma associated with active volcanism heats groundwater that can rise to the surface to create hot springs. Hokkaido is crazy with hot springs. In Japan, onsen refers to the springs themselves and to the hotels...
About the Blogger
Karen (here with Mt. Shasta in background) is a geology professor emerita who aims to provide a "pocket geologist" for world travelers. Follow the blog to explore the landscapes of our planet and figure out what causes them to look the way they do.