The coastal paradise city of Visakhapatnam, also known as Vizag, is one of the oldest port establishments in the heart of the south-Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Known for its serene landscapes, and picturesque beaches, this industrial city has all the potential to be acclaimed as a geo-heritage park.
Though the city doesn’t portray a very ancient illustration, it treasures a rich geological heritage, which meeting the guidelines and requirements of the UNESCO deserves to be notified as a geo-heritage park in every manner.
Interestingly the city has a few geological phenomena, which are still evolving with the natural changes, for which scientists take the place as an experimental site of nature.
According to Prof. D. Rajasekhar Reddy, Advisor to Geo Heritage Cell of INTACH and former professor of Geology, Andhra University, “Visakhapatnam has records of 1500 millennia back geological connection from the present day, which is why it is of interest for the geological scientists.”
Explaining about the land’s geological status he said, “The last major climate shift took place about 18,500 years ago, which was called the Glacial Maximum or the ice age. During this period, the sea had receded about 50 km inside from the present shoreline, with a vertical drop of 120 mts. And the present beaches that we see in the city limits is about 6,000 years old and they are of scientific interest.”
Among all of the city’s geological curiosities, the most amazing one is the development of a natural arch at Mangamaripeta beach. 
This natural rock formation is still evolving with nature and is a subject of interest and study. Resembling the natural rock arch of the Tirumala hills, this particular formation finds its commencement after the last ice age at around 10,000 years ago, said Prof. Reddy.
In fact, the remote areas of Andhra Pradesh are well endowed with more vintage geological attentions.
Like for instance – ‘Erramatti Dibbalu’ – the famous red sand dunes that lies next to the Beach Road near Bheemunipatnam. This site is about 20,000 years old and has already been recognised as national geo-heritage site in 2014 and as a protected site by the A.P. government in 2016.
Towards the east there is the Eastern Ghats – a discontinuous range of mountains – which is estimated to be 1,800 millennia old. According to Prof. Reddy, ‘Being a geo-heritage site by itself, Eastern Ghats includes some more of such sites like the volcanic ash site of Araku.’
Araku’s origin is traced back around 75,000 years old by the Geological scientist from across the world including Geological Survey of India (GSI).
The 70 cm thick sheet of volcanic ashes, that covered a large part of the Araku valley, actually finds its trail in Mt. Toba volcanic eruption which occurred about 75,000 years ago in Indonesia. Further research on it will reveal, the then’s climatic condition, how big was the explosion, wind speed of that time and other details.
Along with these, Andhra pradesh has one more famous site of geological significance – the millennia old Borra Caves and the huge bauxite deposit on the hills, which is aged 1,500 millennia years at least.The city also has archaeological sites like Thotlakonda, Bavikonda and Bojjanakonda.
Many attempts have been taken to aware the world about the prospective of Visakhapatnam’s geological relevance. Recently a rally was conducted in the city, to create awareness on the city’s geo-heritage. It was organised as an attempt to create a geopark in Visakhapatnam with the support of the government.
Undoubtedly geological sites are of significant scientific, educational, cultural or aesthetic value. But such landforms face threats from urbanisation, mining and other human activities. So, with the purpose of protecting these features, Unesco has promoted its geopark initiative by establishing the Global Geopark Network (GGN) in 2004.
