A new geopark is developing in Chile with the help of cartographers from the Technische Universität Dresden. In the Región del Maule scientists from the University of Talca in Chile, together with their German counterparts, are developing an area of approximately 160km by 120-km. Prof. Manfred Buchroithner, Director of the Institute for Cartography at the Technische Universität Dresden, is supervising the project as the scientific advisor, Joseph Lademann, TUD alumnus, is supporting the implementation of the project on site. Above all, the expertise of the Dresden cartographers is most in demand for the modern and attractive visualisation of maps, information boards and digital media.

The new geopark should make the region’s unique geological heritage accessible and, by extension, better-known. The aim is to gain recognition as an official UNESCO geopark. Starting from the region´s capital city Talca, some 240 km south of Santiago de Chile, there will be a 158 kilometre-long georoute extending to the Argentinian border. At around 20 locations on the route view- and information points for the unique geological features will be established. Taking centre stage are the Andes of central Chile with their stratovolcanoes and large lava fields, which are now crossed by rivers and shape unique waterfalls and rock formations. Volcanic rocks such as andesite, basalt or tephra are typical of the region but also plutonic rocks such as granite. A particular attraction is the Laguna del Maule in the eastern part of the future geopark. The gigantic Caldera is surrounded by small volcanic cones, where solidified streams of lava are still easily recognizable, even today.

Joseph Lademann, who completed his degree at the Institute for Cartography at the beginning of the year, is at the Centro de Geomática at the University of Talca compiling the technical foundations for the UNESCO proposal. Amongst other things he has created a geological map and conceptualised the form of the information board. Alongside the georoute, in a former Jesuit monastery, a scientific museum to function as an information centre will be built under the academic guidance of Prof. Manfred Buchroithner. In the coming months there will already be a book published, which has mainly been compiled by the two Dresden academics. The currently-nameless geopark in the Región del Maule will become the second of its kind in Chile after the Geoparque Kütralkura. So far there are only three geoparks in the whole of Latin America.

Information for journalists:
Prof. Manfred Buchroithner
Tel +49 (0)177 4868121