Natural
Monte San Giorgio
Meride, Italie
Inscribed 2003, 2010
Photo : Hermann Junghans (CC BY-SA 3.0 de)
Located in the municipality of Meride in southern Switzerland, Monte San Giorgio is a mountain fossil site that rises from the shores of Lake Ceresio (Lago di Lugano). The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003 and underwent boundary extension in 2010, recognizing its exceptional paleontological significance. The mountain's rock formations, primarily from the Triassic period, contain exceptionally well-preserved marine fossils that provide crucial evidence of ancient aquatic ecosystems. Monte San Giorgio has yielded numerous fossils including fish, reptiles, and invertebrates that document the evolution of life in a Tethys ocean environment approximately 250 million years ago. The site's geological layering and fossil content have made it a reference location for understanding Triassic marine paleontology and continue to attract scientific research. Its dual values as both a geological formation and a natural archive of prehistoric life justify its recognition as a natural heritage property of outstanding universal value.
Location
Meride, Italie
Inscription
2003, 2010
