The hexagonal volcanic rock columns located in the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark have been selected as one of the First 100 International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) Geological Heritage Sites, Hong Kong officials announced on Saturday. Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Geopark

The hexagonal rock columns, which are mainly distributed on Ninepin Island, are the relic of an Early Cretaceous supervolcano. Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Geopark

The Chengjiang fossil site in Southwest China’s Yunnan province has also been selected for the list as it presents the diversity of life on Earth during the Early Cambrian Explosion. Photo: VCG

The Shilin karst in Yunnan has been listed for its sharp pinnacles. Photo: VCG

The Badain Jaran Desert in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region has the largest magadunes in the world. Most of them are over 300 meters in height. Photo: VCG

Uluru is the world’s largest monolith situated in the southern part of Australia’s Northern Territory. Photo: VCG

The Grand Canyon encompasses more than 1,218,000 acres on the Colorado Plateau in northwestern Arizona. Photo: VCG

Poás volcano is a huge arc volcano-tectonic located in Costa Rica. This is one of the most studied volcanoes in the world and a popular attraction. Photo: VCG

The Pamukkale Travertines in Turkey feature snow-white colored travertine terraces. The site has provided researchers with insights into ancient tectonic activity. Photo: VCG

Mount Everest is also on the IUGS list as Ordovician limestone that contain fossils of marine animals deposited in the shallow-water sea about 450 million years ago are discovered on the summit of Mount Everest. Photo: VCG