Chinese geopark establishes relationship with American counterpart

A geopark in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has established a friendship agreement with an American geopark, local authorities said on Wednesday. The Wudalianchi Geopark, located in the city of Heihe, is famed for its volcanoes and hot springs. The park has established a "sister park" relationship with the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park to strengthen shared management and training experience, according to the Wudalianchi Scenic Zone Management Committee. The friendship agreement also allows both sides to communicate their preservation experience and discuss further cooperation on geopark protection and administration. The 1,060-square-km Wudalianchi Geopark is home to 14 volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions in the park date back more than 2 million years. The geopark is of great importance to the history of ecological science, geography and physics. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park encompasses two active volcanoes. It offers scientists insight into the birth of the Hawaiian Islands and ongoing studies into volcanic processes.