■The history of Itoigawa Geopark began from ‘ Fossa Magna Region development plan’, decided in 1987. It is a plan to utilize natural and cultural heritages including geological ones for the regional development.

As the first move of the plan, Fossa Magna Park and Fossa Magna Museums were build up. In 1991, it was decided to call the geological sites as ‘Geopark’. Thus Itoigawa is the first city started to use the term ‘Geopark’ in the world.