Lorentz is also the only protected area in the world that encompasses a continuous, intact transect-from snow cap mountains to tropical marine environment, including extensive lowland wetlands. Located at the meeting point of two colliding continental plates, the area has a complex geology with on-going mountain formation as well as major sculpting by glaciations and shoreline accretion, which has formed a large part of the lowland areas. These processes have increased the level of endemism and high level of biodiversity in the region. The area also contains fossil sites that record the evolution of life on New Guinea (whc.unesco.org).