ANNEX 2 Geological heritage and summary SUMMARY Platåbergens Geopark is situated in the southwest Swedish gneiss terrane of the Fennoscandian shield, cover­ing the Swedish table mountain landscape. Several remarkable and unique geological features are easily accessible­ in the geopark, together representing a time span of around 1.7 billion years. The main attractions are the 15 classic table mountains, which has been an important area for geological research since 18th century. The table mountains themselves are relicts of Palaeozoic cover of sedimentary bedrocks and stands out as prominent features in the landscape. Underlying the table mountains is the sub-Cambrian peneplain, which is well preserved and well visible in the aspiring geopark area. The region also contains landforms created during two of the most important events during the late Quaternary of Sweden; the Younger Dryas cold interval and the drainage of the Baltic Ice Lake.

E.1.1 Geological heritage and conservation General geological description of the aUGGp

THE PRECAMBRIAN continental accretion. Five to six orogenies can be sorted The Swedish Precambrian bedrock was formed over a very out which contributed to the construction and modification long time. The crustal growth started at about 2.8 billion of the bedrock in different parts of Sweden. Finally, at 1.5 Ga years ago in the very north of the country and finished in the ago, the craton was established although later magmatism southwest at 1.5 billion years ago; that is more than 1 billion and metamorphic overprinting occurred. years of crust construction. The crust formation is character- In the geopark area the principal crust was formed at 1.7 ised by repeated accretions forming the oldest rocks in the to 1.6 Ga ago, although later covered by sedimentary rocks present northernmost Sweden to the present western part and intruded by mafic intrusions and granitoids. Granitoid of Sweden. Several suture zones attest to subductionPl aandtåb ergens compositionsGeopark characterise most of these gneissic rocks of Bedrock 1:1M (Geological Survey of Sweden)

!( Mariestad

Platåbergens Geopark 58°40'0"N Bedrock map 58°40'0"N (Geological Survey of Sweden)

Lidköping!(

!(Vänersborg S!(kövde !(

58°20'0"N 58°20'0"N 58°20'0"N

!(Trollhättan 13°20'0"E 0 5 10 20 12°30'0"E . km

!(Falköping

58°0'0"N

!(

!( ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 2

!( !( which some are porphyritic with aggregates of K-feldspar. Following this long history of Precambrian crustal Granitoids of the 1.7 Ga TransScandinavian Igneous Belt (TIB) formation and deformation, a long period of quiescence outcrop in the very east of the park. More deformed, veined, began, characterised by extensive erosion and levelling of 1.70 to 1.65 Ga gneissic granitoids are found to the west of the mountains. This period also includes a global Ice Age, TIB ending at a major north-south striking shear zone, the the “Snowball Earth”. An extensive peneplain was created. Great Mylonite Zone, in the central part of the park. To the It is this surface that was covered by Palaeozoic seas and west of this shear zone somewhat younger 1.65 to 1.60 Ga sediment, and then exhumed during the Cenozoic. Thus, gneissic granitoids dominate that were created during the this Precambrian peneplain now characterises the surface Gothian orogeny. topography in much of the geopark. The gneissic bedrock It is believed that Baltica was part of a supercontinent surface today corresponds to that which was exposed before 1.3 Ga that subsequently was rifted from Laurentia but some 550 million years ago. In places within the geopark once again collided with the same 300 Ma later (at approx- it forms extremely flat surfaces and is called the sub-Cam- imately 1 Ga ago). This collisional event is named the Sve- brian peneplain. The reason for this denudation must have conorwegian orogeny and corresponds to the Grenvillian in been extreme climate conditions governing weathering and North America. The effects of this is shown in zircon growth erosion that followed the global Neoproterozoic glaciation rendering Sveconorwegian U-Pb ages and also in structural (Snowball Earth). fabrics resulting in foliated, banded, veined and folded gneisses The present land surface is a product of peneplanation and a medium to upper amphibolite facies overprint. Repeated due to repeated uplift and subsidence of the crust. The overprinting is revealed by the difference in fabrics between sub-Cambrian peneplain covered most of the country and younger granitoids and the oldest rocks in correspondence was subsequently buried beneath Palaeozoic sediments in a to the polymetamorphic overprints (Gothian, Hallandian/ transgressive sea named the Iapetus Ocean. Dano-Polonian, Sveconorwegian orogenies) recorded in gneisses further south. THE LOWER PALAEOZOIC In the geopark, the Sveconorwegian tectonics is also During the Ediacaran the supercontinent Rodinia broke up manifested by the prominent thrust zone mentioned above. by rifting, and the initiation of the Iapetus Ocean took place This zone, which strikes north–south across the geopark between Laurentia and Baltica. The high rate of continental from Kedumbergen in the south to Kållandsö to the north, drift and active mid-ocean ridges resulted in a first-order sea is named the Great Mylonite Zone (MZ). This thrust event level rise that continued through the entire Cambrian and Or- resulted in a considerable thickening of the crust to the east dovician. The resulting sediment successions in the geopark of the zone by top-to-the-east sense of movements. Iso- table mountains give the visitor a unique chance to follow the static rebound readjusted the thickened crust to a “normal” evolution of sedimentation and ecology in the shallow seas. thickness some million years later by the reverse sense of The onset of the closure between Laurentia, Baltica and movement along the zone. It separates rocks older than ca Avalonia in the Ordovician led to the Caledonian Orogeny 1.65 Ga to the east from rocks younger than this to the west; and final closure of the Iapetus Ocean during the Silurian. the latter considered to have been formed during the Gothian This is also reflected in the sedimentary layers of the table orogeny but later overprinted by younger events. mountains. In the Kinnekulle table mountain a complete

Gneiss. Photo: Eva-Lena Tullborg Sandstone. Photo: Eva-Lena Tullborg Alum shale.

Limestone, with meteorite. Shale. Photo: Eva-Lena Tullborg Dolerite. Photo: Torbjörn Skogedal Photo: Eva-Lena Tullborg

ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 3 The alum shale is overlain by a spectacular suite of reddish and grey ortoceratite limestone rich in fossils. It was formed during the time of the Great Ordovician Biodiver- sification Event (GOBE), an unprecedented rise in marine biodiversity on the family, genera and species level. GOBE is the subject of intense research today, and mechanisms for the rise in biodiversity are debated. Several other Ordovician limestone units and shale units follow above, all more or less rich in fossils. A particularly interesting horizon within the Ordovician limestone is found to be very rich in fossil meteorites, a witness of intense bombardment at this time, of which some have an odd and rare achondritic composition. The meteo­ rites are a result of a collision between two asteroids in our Erosional remnants of the Cambrian basal conglomerate solar system, leaving the asteroid belt between Mars and resting on Proterozoic gneiss just north of Råbäck harbour. Jupiter. The geopark thus houses the largest known archive Photo: Mikael Calner. of fossil meteorites in the world. This Ordovician collision was so extensive that a large percent of meteorites falling to succession is offered from the Proterozoic bedrock to the Earth today are from this event. lower Silurian. A core drilling was carried out through this The narrowing of the epeiric Iapetus Ocean led to tecto­ entire sequence in 2016 and can form the basis for a guide nic subsidence of western Sweden and the geopark area. illustrating the succession for visitors in good detail. The marine environments therefore became deeper, and The oldest Palaeozoic rocks in the geopark are a con- clay became the primary deposit. Thus, the upper portions glomerate with reworked clasts from the gneissic basement of the Kinnekulle table mountain host shale deposits rich in rocks. This conglomerate tells a unique history of an early a deep-water pelagic fauna. The upper Ordovician and the Cambrian, windblown and desert-like landscape, and how Silurian parts of the succession also yield numerous volcanic it was reshaped by the rising sea levels. The conglomerate ash (bentonite) beds from the volcanism that was related to is overlain by quartz-rich sandstones with abundant trace the closing of the Iapetus Ocean, the thickest being more fossils from inner shelf and beach deposits. The pure, whitish than one metre. sandstones are abruptly overlain by the black alum shale The successive collision of Baltica and Laurentia caused deposited in an oxygen-deficient shallow sea. The shales a stack of nappes to be thrusted onto the western margin include calcareous, disc-shaped concretions called Orsten of Baltica to form the Scandinavian Caledonides. Although (stinkstone), hosting a world-famous microscopic fauna of these mountains were eroded already in the Silurian, early arthropods. erosional products were continuously deposited on the foreland, in some places reaching several kilometres in thickness but thinning to the east. This caused the Cambrian-Silurian sediments in the geopark to be covered by a considerable stack of mainly Devonian sedi- ments, which were subsequently completely eroded away. This pile of Palaeozoic sediments was intruded by dolerites at approximately 300 million years ago, contemporaneous with intense volcanism in Western Europe, e.g. in the nearby Oslo region, which also created dyke swarms along the Swedish west coast. The dolerites in the geopark were formed as sills. The present thick- nesses show that some of them origi- nally were more than 60 meters thick. Map over table mountains They were intruded at different levels in in the Billingen–Falbygden the Cambrian-Silurian sediments. Later area, modified from erosion of the sedimentary cover rocks Wik et al. (2002) exposed the dolerite sills, which can now be found as caps on the table mountains. The table mountains are bordered by faults and the brittle deformation post- dates the Carboniferous-Permian dolerites and must be Mesozoic or even younger features. In south-central Sweden, the crust was uplifted during the Jurassic– Cretaceous­ periods. The most elevated parts

ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 4 of the sub-Cambrian peneplain were eroded and weathering Event I: the Younger Dryas and The Middle Swedish End occurred along fractures. Late in the Cretaceous most of the Moraines weathering products were eroded, the sea level was raised The Younger Dryas (YD) was a cold event in Earth history that and sediments were deposited. has been recognised all over the world. As the world warmed Another uplift of the crust took place during the Paleo- out of the Ice Age, a dramatic and sudden (within a few years) gene and Neogene, which caused new parts of the Precam- return to an Ice Age climate occurred. This event lasted more brian rocks to weather and erode. This story of uplift and than 1,000 years, followed by a dramatic and rapid continuance weathering and erosion makes southern Sweden a fascinat- of warming until the ice sheets were gone. ing landscape with several generations of peneplanation. When the YD occurred, the Scandinavian ice sheet had Platåbergens Geopark is thus a preserved flat land shaped retreated so that its southern boundary was within the by peneplanation in the latest Precambrian and modified by geopark area. But the newly frigid conditions caused the later deep-weathering in warm climates and subsequently ice sheet to re-advance. This re-advance formed the pro­ modified by the Pleistocene glaciations. That is why we to- minent end moraine that forms the broad ridge just north day can walk on the exact same surface as was exposed 550 of Skara and continues west to Hindens Rev and east to million years ago! On this peneplain the conformly deposited the prominent ridges at Skövde. In fact, the ridges can be Cambrian sediments from the transgressive Iapetus Ocean traced into Norway (the Ra moraines) and into Finland (the are demonstrated in the table mountains of Platåbergens Salpauselka moraines)–these are among the most famous, Geopark. prominent and well-studied glacial features in the Nordic region. In Sweden, these moraines occur in a band of several QUATERNARY ridges, referred to as the Middle Swedish End Moraine Zone Sweden was completely covered by glacial ice during the (MSEMZ). In the geopark area, there are seven such ridges, last Ice Age, but as it melted away, two of the most dramat- and it is clear from studying their internal construction that ic and significant events that occurred during the Ice Age the southernmost one formed first, and the successive ridges took place within the area of the geopark. These two are the to the north were shaped by successive oscillation of the dramatic “return to Ice Age conditions” that is referred to as ice margin – each ridge being created when the ice, having the Younger Dryas (from around 13 to 11,6 ka ago) followed slightly retreated, made a new small advance. by the dramatic drainage of the Baltic Ice Lake at the northern These end moraines are of interest internationally end of Billingen. Platåbergens becauseGeopa rtheyk represent well-studied examples of what are Quaternary Deposits (Geological Survey of Sweden)

!( Mariestad

Platåbergens Geopark 58°40'0"N Quaternary Deposits 58°40'0"N (Geological Survey of Sweden)

Lidköping!(

!(Vänersborg S!(kövde !(

58°20'0"N 58°20'0"N 58°20'0"N

!(Trollhättan 0 5 10 20 13°20'0"E km 12°30'0"E .

!(Falköping

58°0'0"N

!( ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 5

!(

!( !( called “push moraines”. End moraines can form in a number Event II: the drainage of the Baltic Ice Lake of ways, but these were made bulldozer like, by the ice shoving During deglaciation, the world’s seas were at a much (120 m!) sediment in front of it into ridges. Of additional importance is lower level. For Scandinavia, this meant that the sea was that these ridges were made under water. The entire region unable to reach into the Baltic basin. Instead, this basin (below 125–130 m) lay under the sea surface because the was occupied by a large lake, dammed to the north by the land had been depressed by the weight of the ice. Ocean retreating ice margin. Sweden’s south east coast was covered sediment in the form of varved to non-varved clay accumu- by this ice lake, whereas the south west coast was inundated lated on the ocean floor in front of the ice – during ice-margin by the sea – the highlands in the centre of southern Sweden oscillations, the clay was pushed into the ridges. Therefore, separated these two. As the ice retreated, the lake expanded these end moraines are composed almost entirely of clay. to the north. However, when the ice margin retreated to the In part because of their long history of study, but in north end of the table mountain Billingen, a low-elevation particular due to new exposures when highway E20 was passage was uncovered, which allowed the dammed Baltic extended, we have a very clear picture of how these moraines Ice Lake to drain (catastrophically) to the west, into the sea. were constructed. Of additional interest has been the discovery It has been calculated that 7,500 km3 of water drained to the that the clays that accumulated during ice retreat have annual west because the Baltic Ice Lake was 25 m above sea level at layers. These are referred to as “varved clays”. Varved clays the time. Even though rapid, it still would have taken over a are seldom reported from marine sediment because they seem year for the water to drain completely down to sea level. to have difficulty forming in saltwater. However, excellent The geopark hosts some of the strongest evidence for varved sediment has been discovered in boreholes in the this event. Zones of washed-clean bedrock occur where the geopark area and has been the subject of published research. drainage started at Billingen as well as many “boulder bars” Lastly, the well-known “kame landscape” of Valle Härad deposited on the highland called Klyftamon over which the was also formed during the ice-margin oscillations of the ice drainage waters escaped. A ridge at Timmersdala represents sheet. However, it was an area above sea level at the time, the deposits of this event. It was at the west edge of Klyfta- and large amounts of coarse sand and gravel were deposited mon that the drainage water entered the sea. Boreholes and in front of the ice by streams of meltwater emanating from exposures in the flat lands around Götene have uncovered subglacial tunnels. Because some of the ice became buried the remains of this event, where sand and gravel had been by this outwash (only to melt later), numerous “kettle” lakes further buried by the marine clays. occur. Valle Härad is arguably Sweden’s most known kame This event has been studied around the Baltic basin for and kettle landscape. over a century and is of interest not only to geologists, but also to archaeologists and biologists because these events had direct effects on the peopling of Scandinavia and the evolution of its flora and fauna.

Map showing the Middle Swedish End Moraine Zone (MSEMZ). Black stars show locations of cuts through the Ledsjö, Flintås and Gullhammar end moraines. Modified from Johnson et al. (2019).

ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 6 Geosites

Geosites

Listing and description of geological sites within the aUGGp, with details on the interest of these sites in terms of their value and current or potential pressure on the geological sites regarding their preservation and current status in terms of protection

ID Name of site, Key words Importance Legal status and potential pressure coordinates and & interest municipality

1 Nordkroken Bedrock site, INT Area of national interest, shore protection Vänersborg sub-Cambrian Sci, Edu, The area is not under direct threat today due to its spread and 58°23’17.3”N peneplain, granite, Tour the fact that the bedrock is robust. However, the rock surface 12°24’16.9”E conglomerate is so unique that it should be better recognised in physical planning, e.g. by an area protection.

2 Predikstolen, Bedrock site, view- REG Nature reserve Hallesnipen point, dolerite Tour No threat at present. There is a footpath the whole way, some Vänersborg 1.5 km from the parking lot. Some trees need to be cut down 58°24’20.8”N to maintain the viewpoint. 12°27’05.8”E

3 Geology Trail Bedrock site, NAT Nature reserve Byklev stratigraphy, sedi- Edu, Tour A large number of visitors can wear down the trail. However, Vänersborg mentary bedrocks, an increased number of visitors is not deemed a threat to the 58°20’42.5”N geotrail geoscientific values (exposure of rocks). 12°25’25.4”E

4 Västra Tunhem’s Bedrock site, alum NAT Nature reserve caves shale, dolerite, Edu, Tour Risk of natural cave-ins in the caves, but no need for action Vänersborg cultural history at present. 58°18’29.3”N 12°24’15.7”E

ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 7 5 Slättbergen Bedrock site, INT Nature reserve Trollhättan sub-Cambrian Sci, Edu, Large parts of the peneplain are protected, but since it is 58°17’04.7”N peneplain, granite, Tour located in an inhabited area there is always a risk, e.g. for 12°20’35.8”E conglomerate develo­pment, littering etc. The bedrock is considered robust.

6 Gyllene spiken Global boundary INT Nature reserve Grästorp Stratotype Section Sci, Edu, The shale is fragile and breaks if touched. There is a need for 58°21’46.6”N and Point (GSSP), Tour signs and/or a barrier so that visitors cannot reach the rock 12°29’52.0”E fossil site, Floian wall. age, alum shale

7 Flo viewpoint Viewpoint, dolerite, REG Nature reserve Grästorp Västgötaslätten Tour, Edu No threat at present. 58°20’52.6”N plain 12°31’04.4”E

8 Lugnås millstone Bedrock site, INT Nature reserve quarry gneiss, con­ Sci, Edu, An increase in visitors may entail wear on the area. A vulner­ Mariestad glomerate, sand- Tour able situation with dependence on volunteer work through 58°37’42.6”N stone, millstone the organisation that runs the business. 13°44’08.6”E production

9 Kållandsö Bedrock site, NAT Area of national interest, to a large part shore protection Lidköping gneiss, mylonite Sci, Tour Large area, no threat at present. 58°40’25.9”N zone, large area 13°13’08.8”E

10 Kakeled Bedrock site, alum INT Nature management area Götene shale, fossil site, Sci, Edu Relatively large threat due to fossil/rock collecting as the area 58°33’31.6’’N old quarry is visited by a significant number of geologists and students 13°19’19,8’’E each year. A sign needs to be put up informing visitors that it is illegal to collect rocks.

11 Large quarry at Bedrock site, lime- INT Nature management area Hällekis stone, old quarry, Sci, Edu, Large area visited by several geology excursions each year. Götene orthoceratites, Tour Risk for fossil/rock collecting. Should be prevented with signs. 58°36’39.9”N fossil site 13°23’28.7”E

12 Trolmen harbour Bedrock site, sand- INT Nature management area Götene stone, sub-Cam- Sci, Edu, No threat at present. 58°35’44,5’’N brian peneplain, Tour 13°20’16.2’’E conglomerate

13 Österplana hed Bedrock site, alvar INT Nature reserve Götene plain, limestone Edu, Tour No threat at present. 58°34’26.6”N 13°25’33.1”E

14 Kinne-Kleva Bedrock site, alum NAT Nature management area Götene shale, limestone, Sci, Edu, The present exposures may be destroyed if the racetrack is 58°32’44.9”N old quarry Tour expanded. 13°23’41.7”E

15 Thorsberg’s Bedrock site, me- INT Nature management area quarry teorites, limestone, Sci, Edu Active quarry, so the area is subject to constant change. Götene quarry 58°34’44.4”N 13°25’46.9”E

16 Ryds grottor Bedrock site, NAT Nature reserve Skövde dole­rite, viewpoint Tour No threat at present. Vegetation needs to be cleared at least 58°25’50.1”N every two years to keep the dolerite visible, as well as to 13°49’20.9”E maintain the viewpoint.

ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 8 17 Jättadalen and Bedrock site, NAT Nature reserve Öglunda caves dolerite, Tour No threat at present. Vegetation needs to be cleared at least Skara viewpoint every two years to keep the dolerite visible, as well as to 58°25’54.3”N maintain the viewpoint. 13°41’49.9”E

18 Silverfallet Bedrock site, REG Nature reserve Skövde sandstone, alum Edu, Tour No threat at present. Vegetation needs to be cleared so 58°29’35.0”N shale, limestone, that both the geology (bedrock exposure) and the cultural-­ 13°44’40.4”E old quarry historical relics are visible.

19 Råbäck harbour Bedrock site, sand- INT Nature reserve Götene stone, sub-Cam- Sci, Edu, No threat at present. 58°36’22.1”N brian peneplain, Tour 13°20’45.5”E conglomerate

20 Cementa’s south Bedrock site, fossil NAT Bird protection area quarry site, limestone, old Sci, Edu, No threat at present. Skövde quarry Tour 58°22’41.9”N 13°49’00.8”E

21 Tomtens lime- Bedrock site, fossil REG No protection stone quarry site, limestone, old Sci, Edu, No threat at present. Falköping quarry Tour 58°13’27.2”N 13°36’32.8”E

22 Ålleberg Viewpoint, table INT Nature reserve Falköping mountain, sedi- Edu, Tour No threat at present. 58°08’15.3”N mentary bedrocks, 13°35’59.7”E dolerite, landscape

23 Djupadalen, Dala Geomorphology NAT Nature reserve Falköping site, bedrock site, Edu, Tour No threat at present. 58°15’07.8”N canyon, limestone, 13°44’55.9”E ice lake drainage site, alvar

24 Djupadalen, Geomorphology REG Nature reserve Karleby site, bedrock site, Sci, Edu, No threat at present. Falköping canyon, stratig- Tour 58°10’19.8”N raphy 13°38’17.3”E

25 Dolerite quarry Bedrock site, REG Nature reserve at Hunneberg dolerite, old quarry Sci, Edu, No threat at present. Grästorp 58°21’38.2”N 12°30’07.5”E

26 Högstena Bedrock site, shale REG Nature reserve Planta­berget Sci, Edu, No threat at present. Falköping 58°13’46.8”N 13°43’44.3”E

27 Råbäck’s lime- Bedrock site, alum NAT Nature reserve stone quarry shale, fossil site, Edu, Tour No threat at present. Vegetation needs to be cleared so that Götene old quarry both the geology and the cultural-historical relics are visible. 58°35’48.1”N 13°21’34.3”E

ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 9 28 Shingle field at Geomorphology REG Nature reserve Grytet site, shoreline, Edu, Tour An increase in visitors may entail wear on the area. Vegetation Vänersborg rounded rocks has to be cleared regularly. 58°22’22.8”N 12°29’37.1”E

29 Hindens Rev Geomorphology INT Nature reserve Lidköping site, peninsula, end Sci, Edu, An increase in visitors may entail wear on the area. 58°34’23.1”N moraine, MSEMZ Tour 12°54’50.1”E

30 Rådaåsen Geomorphology NAT Area of national interest, water protection area, partly nature Lidköping site, end moraine, Sci, Edu, reserve 58°29’57.0”N MSEMZ Tour An expansion of the gravel pit may partly threaten the values 13°05’23.6”E of the ridge.

31 Ledsjö moraine Geomorphology NAT No protection Götene site, end moraine, Sci No threat at present. Gravel extraction may pose a future 58°28’06.7”N MSEMZ threat. 13°28’55.1”E

32 Skåning-Åsaka Geomorphology NAT Area of national interest moraine site, end moraine, Sci, Edu No threat at present. Gravel extraction may pose a future Skara MSEMZ threat. 58°26’20.1”N 13°30’24.5”E

33 Högkullen – Geomorphology NAT Nature reserve Kinnekulle site, drumlines Sci No threat at present. drumlines Götene 58°36’06.0”N 13°24’29.1”E

34 Låstad esker Geomorphology NAT Area of national interest Mariestad site, esker Sci, Edu No threat at present. Gravel extraction may pose a future 58°32’53.9”N threat. 13°47’41.4”E

35 Krogstorp esker Geomorphology NAT Area of national interest Skara site, esker, outwash Sci No threat at present. Gravel extraction may pose a future 58°26’45.4”N fan threat. 13°33’39.2”E

36 Valle Härad Geomorphology INT Nature reserve Skara, Skövde site, kame land- Sci, Edu, No threat at present. An increase in visitors and development 58°26’08.8”N scape, MSEMZ Tour may pose a future threat. 13°39’45.2”E

37 Store Mon Geomorphology INT No protection Skara site, sedimentary Sci, Edu A possible re-opening of the gravel pit may pose a threat, but 58°30’17.1”N deposits, Baltic Ice there are no such plans at present. 13°35’49.7”E Lake drainage site

38 Stora Stolan Geomorphology INT Area of national interest Skövde site, bedrock site, Sci, Edu, No threat at present. Vegetation needs to be cleared so that 58°31’21.9”N sedimentary Tour both the geology and the cultural-historical relics are visible. 13°46’51.2”E deposits, Baltic Ice Lake drainage site, alum shale, old quarry

39 Klyftamon Geomorphology INT Nature reserve Götene, Skövde site, Baltic Ice Lake Sci, Edu, No threat at present. 58°30’38.5”N drainage site Tour 13°38’41.1”E

ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 10 40 Kestad De Geer Geomorphology NAT No protection moraines site, De Geer Sci, Edu No threat at present. An increase in agriculture may threaten Götene moraines a few of the ridges, but hardly the whole area. 58°33’31.5”N 13°27’46.3”E

41 Binneberg De Geomorphology NAT Area of national interest. Geer moraines site, De Geer Sci, Edu No threat at present. An increase in agriculture or develop- Skövde moraines ment may threaten a few of the ridges, but hardly the whole 58°31’28.1”N area 13°51’52.6”E

42 Skara moraine Geomorphology INT Nature reserve Skara site, end moraine, Sci, Edu, Parts of the moraine ridge that are located outside the reserve 58°24’11.3”N MSEMZ Tour may be threatened by agriculture or development in the 13°29’25.7”E future, but we see no threat at present.

43 Axevalla hed Geomorphology REG Area of national interest, Natura 2000 Skara site, outwash Tour No threat at present. 58°23’44.6”N fan, sedimentary 13°35’21.9”E deposits

44 Händene sand Geomorphology INT No protection dunes site, sand dunes, Sci An increase in agriculture or development may threaten parts Skara aeolian processes of the dune field. 58°24’37.1”N 13°20’25.0”E

45 Pellagården Geomorphology INT No protection varved clay site, varved clay, Sci No threat at present. Skara scientific test site, 58°32’03.0”N Baltic Ice Lake 13°31’13.8”E drainage site

46 Tun moraine Geomorphology NAT Area of national interest Lidköping site, end moraine Sci, Tour No threat at present. 58°25’51.9”N 12°44’06.2”E

47 Lake Hornborga Geomorphology NAT Nature reserve Skara, Falköping site, lake Edu, Tour No threat at present. 58°19’13.7”N 13°33’04.8”E

48 Holmestad esker Geomorphology NAT No protection Götene site, esker Sci, Edu, No threat at present. An increase in agriculture or develop- 58°32’34.5”N Tour ment may threaten parts of the ridge, but hardly the whole 13°34’11.6”E area. The E20 runs across the northern part of the ridge.

49 Ore backar Geomorphology REG Nature reserve Skara site, esker Tour No threat at present. An increase in visitors may entail wear 58°17’41.9”N on the area. 13°30’23.9”E

50 Rännefalan delta Geomorphology REG No protection Falköping site, outwash plain, Sci No threat at present. 58°07’18.3”N Åsle Ice Lake 13°39’37.2”E drainage site

51 Nolgården Näs Geomorphology INT Nature reserve Falköping site, esker net Sci, Edu, No threat at present. 58°05’14.2”N Tour 13°42’03.9”E

52 Blängsmossen Raised bog, NAT Nature reserve Skövde mountain plateau Sci, Edu, No threat at present. 58°25’36.2”N Tour 13°46’38.7”E

ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 11 Geoconservation 4. Cultural and historical values Since the beginning of human history, human evolution For information on how the natural heritage of the area is and development have depended on geological resources. valued, interpreted, promoted and maintained in Sweden, The special geological conditions in one place have created please look at section E.2.1 Natural heritage. Platåbergens different cultural and historical societies. Geopark has developed a Conservation plan for geological heritage in the geopark area. The conservation plan has been 5. Ecological values developed with support from the Swedish Environmental Different rocks give off different nutrients that affect flora Protection Agency through their “LONA” programme for local and vegetation. Different soil types, containing sand, environmental protection activities. As part of the conserva- gravel or clay, affect the ground and plant life. Geological tion plan, Platåbergens Geopark has defined several princi- variation gives us different landforms and landscapes, and a ples for geological natural values. variation in habitats and ecosystems. 6. Value through contribution to ecosystem services Platåbergens Geopark’s principles regarding geological (geosystem services) natural values: Geological diversity strongly contributes to all four types • Geological diversity is a fundamental part of environ- of ecosystem services. For example, the geological cycle is mental diversity and to conserve a geological variation regulating, soil-forming processes are supporting, access is necessary for having resilient natural and human to nutrients and minerals is provisioning, and the possibili- societies. ties for tourism and outdoor activities are cultural. • Geological natural values in the table mountain region 7. Value to outdoor activities, recreation and tourism should be recognised, mapped and protected. Special geological conditions are the basis for several • Areas with high natural values should be used in such a tourist attractions and outdoor activity areas. Geological way as to not destroy those values. sites raise curiosity and wonder while providing knowledge about planet Earth. Thus, geological values often add an • Platåbergens Geopark will work to increase understanding­ extra dimension to nature experiences, recreation and and knowledge about these geological natural values outdoor activities. and the geological processes at work in the landscape.

• Geological natural values are a necessary resource for Platåbergens Geopark will work to protect geological human societies, but the resources should be used in a diversity in the geopark by: sustainable and long-term manner and with considera- 1. collecting data and knowledge about the geological tion for the needs of future generations. history of the area and about important geological sites; 2. keeping an internal database of information sheets on We identify the following values in relation to geological each geological site, including vulnerability and accessi- diversity: bility analyses; 1. Intrinsic value Geological diversity has a value per se, i.e. as a part of planet 3. regularly visiting the geological sites in the field to Earth whether or not it is useful to humans. monitor wear and other threats; 2. Scientific values 4. collaborating with individuals and municipalities and Our geological heritage contains sites and areas that are other authorities to ensure that geological conservation is of scientific importance, to understand the development considered in physical planning; and of our planet as well as ongoing processes and future 5. facilitating, collaborating with and stimulating scientific development. research within the geopark area. 3. Value based on rarity or distinctiveness Several geological sites are one of a kind and should be preserved as scientific references or as important places for teaching and tourism.

Ramson at Kinnekulle.

ANNEX 2 – PLATÅBERGENS GEOPARK 12