Abstract
The Hingol National Park, Pakistan, holds complex geological setting due to active geodynamic nature and association of three major tectonic plates, i.e., Eurasian, Arabian, and Indian. The geological and geomorphological characteristics of HNP were studied as a geoheritage candidate form southern Pakistan. The lithological successions exposed in HNP are highly deformed and tectonically thrusted sheets of cretaceous to Paleocene melanges. For the first time, the geoheritage features in the HNP are highlighted and correlated with the criterion (Viii, natural) of UNESCO World Heritage list. Fourteen geological heritage and ten notable geological features are documented in this paper. These features are reported as tectonic, economical, geochemical, paleogeographical, environmental, hydrogeological, sedimentological, paleontological, and geohistorical. HNP maintains global ranking and needs professional knowledge for understating particularly the mechanism behind the geological/geomorphological features. Moreover, the HNP aesthetic properties are high due to the spectacular landscapes specifically princess of hope, sphinx of Baluchistan, beaches, oasis, and mud volcanoes which are collectively discussed as geological resources. The geoheritage diversity described in this research can be proposed as a complex geosite with distinctive geological and geomorphological characteristics due to its excellent quality of outcrops and easy access to the area. These characteristics can be helpful in documenting the scientific and geotourism perspective, making the national park as an important geosite for the better and efficient exploration of geoheritage.