International Geodiversity Day
Next: October 6, 2027
Every stone has a story.
The story
Where it comes from
International Geodiversity Day was approved on 22 November 2021 by the 193 member states at UNESCO's General Conference in Paris, after a proposal from the International Union of Geological Sciences and 108 other scientific organisations. It was first held on 6 October 2022. Geodiversity is the non-living side of nature: the minerals, rocks, fossils, soils and landscapes that shape every place we live. The day asks us to notice them, and how much society depends on them.
How it's celebrated
Geologists, museums, geoparks and schools around the world run talks, guided walks and photo competitions. It is also an invitation to look closely at the stone in a local wall, a riverbank or a nearby hill. UNESCO also uses the day to promote its Global Geoparks.
Did you know
- There are 241 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 51 countries, together covering an area about the size of Venezuela.
- Langkawi in Malaysia, an archipelago of 99 islands, became Southeast Asia's first Global Geopark in 2007.
- UNESCO is the only UN agency with a mandate to support research and capacity-building in geology and geophysics.
Coming up next
- World Cotton Day · October 7, 2027
- Chung Yeung Festival · October 8, 2027
- The First Implanted Pacemaker · October 8, 2027
- World Post Day · October 9, 2027
- Hangeul Day · October 9, 2027
- Double Tenth Day · October 10, 2027