The Evaporitic Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Italy inscribed in September 2023, span Emilia-Romagna’s gypsum landscapes, hosting over 900 caves formed by evaporite dissolution over 250 million years. Recognized as Italy’s 59th UNESCO site and its first geological listing, this 100-km network includes the world’s most extensive and colorful evaporitic karst, with rare minerals, deep shafts, and underground rivers shaped by Triassic and Messinian salinity crises. Protected within parks like Vena del Gesso Romagnola, it offers a unique window into Earth’s geological history and fragile subterranean ecosystems.

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