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Varkala Cliff : Tentative list of World Heritage Sites

Varkala Cliff : Tentative list of World Heritage Sites

UNESCO has placed the Varkala Cliff on its tentative list of World Heritage Sites.

  • Varkala Cliff is a beautiful natural formation located in Varkala, a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.
  • This cliff along Kerala’s coastline exposes the Warkalli Formation of the Mio-Pliocene age (13 lakh to 2.5 crore years ago), along with natural springs and striking erosional landforms, offering both scientific and touristic value.
  • It is locally called Sivagiri Thuruthu.
  • Its laterite and sedimentary layers hold fossils and traces of ancient climates.
  • The Papanasam Beach, located at the base of the cliff, is revered for its natural springs and believed to have therapeutic properties.
  • It is a crucial aquifer and natural water harvesting system for coastal communities, hosts unique biodiversity in its microhabitat, and supports underwater reefs essential for local fishing communities.
  • It is the 27th national geological monument in the country and the second in Kerala after the Angadipuram Laterite.