{"title":"Geodiversity, Geoconservation and Sustainable Development in Qian’an National Geopark (Hebei, China)","authors":"Xiuming Li, Yanjie Wang, Wenru Jia, Lihong Chen, Fadong Wu","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00984-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00984-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Qian’an National Geopark locates in the southern Yanshan Mountain uplift belt. Active tectonics resulted in mineral enrichment, as well as geoheritages in this area. This includes one of the oldest metamorphic complex exposed in China. This study aims to investigate and protect local geoheritage, to develop geotourism and to contribute to sustainable development. According to the classification standards of geoheritage, we divided geoheritages in Qian’an National Geopark into 6 major categories, 10 categories and 12 subcategories based on extensive field surveys. There are well-preserved human and ecological resources, e.g. the Great Wall as a typical representative. By the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) evaluation, we assessed 20 geoheritage sites in Qian’an National Geopark, resulting in 1 world-class, 2 national-level, 11 regional-level and 6 local-level. Based on their scientific value and rarity, as well as local development planning, the geopark is divided into 3 classes conservation areas. With hierarchical conservation measures, geoheritages have been well protected, and awareness of ecological environment has been greatly improved. Geotourism has made outstanding contributions to local economy and promoted more sustainable development.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141574649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2024-07-08DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00983-5
Chikh Younes Mahboubi, Mohammed Nadir Naimi
{"title":"Geosites Inventory and Proposal of Georoutes Throughout El Bayadh Area (Saharan Atlas, Algeria)","authors":"Chikh Younes Mahboubi, Mohammed Nadir Naimi","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00983-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00983-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In recent years, various studies have been conducted on inventory and assessment of geosites as well as proposals of georoutes, leading to the implementation of geoconservation actions worldwide. The aim of this research is to explore the geological heritage and itineraries of the El Bayadh area in Algeria, which exhibits a rich and diverse geology and offers scenic landscapes. The methodology used is to identify and describe three potential geological itineraries, composed of 11 geosites that have scientific, educational, and touristic value. The most important results are that El Bayadh has unique geological features, such as Triassic diapirs, dinosaur footprint sites, oases, dams, and rock engravings that reveal the area’s ancient history and geological processes. The geoheritage of El Bayadh can contribute to sustainable development, conservation, and community engagement, by promoting geotourism, geoscience education, and natural heritage preservation.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"77 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141574650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2024-07-04DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00982-6
Paul Sotiriou, Pedro Nunes
{"title":"The Geoheritage of Madeira: Implications for Natural Heritage and Geotourism","authors":"Paul Sotiriou, Pedro Nunes","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00982-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00982-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The island of Madeira forms part of the Madeira Archipelago, an Autonomous Region of Portugal, in the NE Atlantic Ocean. The Madeira Archipelago was built on 140-million-year-old oceanic crust. The exposed geology of Madeira is comprised of the Miocene (> 5.6 million years old) Basal (Inferior), Pleistocene-Miocene (1.8–5.6 million years old) Intermediate Volcanic, Pleistocene (0.7–1.8 million years old) Upper (Superior) Volcanic, and Holocene-Pleistocene (0.007-0.7 million years old) Upper (Superior) Volcanic complexes, generating the landforms and landscapes for which the island is renowned. There are at least 17 geosites on Madeira, including those in the Ponta de São Lourenço, Porto da Cruz, São Vicente Valley, Pico Ruivo, and Ponta da Cruz areas. Geotourism is not as well developed as cultural or biodiversity tourism on Madeira, however, it represents another way for tourists to explore the island’s natural heritage if done in a sustainable manner. Future studies are required to better delineate and set up georoutes on Madeira, particularly in the Ponta de São Lourenço, Porto da Cruz, and São Vicente Valley areas. It is envisaged that the aforementioned geosites could be linked by a single georoute around Madeira, the Madeira Georoute. Further investigation of the geosites identified by this study is required to ensure that these sites are managed and conserved, thereby protecting the geoheritage of Madeira. Geoconservation, sustainable tourism and the cooperation between the public and government authorities (including geologists) are required to improve geotourism on Madeira. The application of the Inventario Español de Lugares de Interés Geológico (IELIG) and Geosite Assessment (GA) models are required to assess and manage threats to Madeira’s geoheritage sites. Such threats include coastal erosion and human activities, such as mass tourism and urban expansion. It is proposed that the government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira in consultation with local and regional stakeholders should submit an application to create a UNESCO Global Geopark on the island of Madeira. This territorial sustainable development approach should be implemented based on the principles of geotourism, geoconservation, and geoeducation.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141552321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2024-07-04DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00980-8
Elena Storta, Luca Barale, Alessandro Borghi, Anna d’Atri, Giovanna Antonella Dino, Francesca Gambino, Luca Martire, Luigi Perotti, Fabrizio Piana, Aldo Acquarone, Paolo Sassone, Massimiliano Senesi, Luca Mallen, Michele Morelli, Gabriele Nicolò
{"title":"The Database of the Ornamental Stones of Piemonte (NW Italy) Hosted on a WebGIS Service","authors":"Elena Storta, Luca Barale, Alessandro Borghi, Anna d’Atri, Giovanna Antonella Dino, Francesca Gambino, Luca Martire, Luigi Perotti, Fabrizio Piana, Aldo Acquarone, Paolo Sassone, Massimiliano Senesi, Luca Mallen, Michele Morelli, Gabriele Nicolò","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00980-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00980-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In Piemonte (north-western Italy), an intense extraction activity of ornamental stones widely used for historical buildings, developed throughout centuries. This is due to the wide geodiversity of the region, characterised by mostly metamorphic and magmatic rocks in the Western Alps and by terrigenous and carbonate sedimentary rocks in the Alps-Apennines syn-orogenic basins. The work presents the description and classification of the main Piemonte ornamental stones, referring to a simplified lithological Map Legend. To enhance the remarkable historical and contemporary stone heritage of the region a database (DB) was developed addressing a proper cataloguing of the ornamental stones and related quarries. The classified instances have been referred to the geologic units of a regional-scale, interactive geological map, in which each ornamental stone was attributed to few geo-lithological classes. The map was developed as a WebGIS service hosted on a geoportal (https://webgis.arpa.piemonte.it/agportal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6ea1e38603d6469298333c2efbc76c72) that allows interactive querying and download of the DB information, regarding the main rock types and the corresponding quarries, as well as their historical-architectural uses, to underline their value as witness of cultural heritage. The WebGIS service is progressively fed by new data, in order to become a relevant source of information for those working in the field of cultural heritage and geo-environmental sciences.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141552320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2024-07-03DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00973-7
M. A. Quasim, Sreepat Jain, Aaisha Naz, B. P. Singh, Iftikhar Ahmad, Mohd Shaif
{"title":"Bhojunda Stromatolite Park (Rajasthan, NW India): a Window to Early Life and a Cry for Geoconservation","authors":"M. A. Quasim, Sreepat Jain, Aaisha Naz, B. P. Singh, Iftikhar Ahmad, Mohd Shaif","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00973-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00973-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In India, Rajasthan, the northwestern part of India, possesses geological diversity comparable to its cultural richness. This paper focuses on evaluating a promising geological heritage site in Rajasthan, the Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Stromatolite Park at Bhojunda (District Chittorgarh). The Bhagwanpura Limestone Formation of the Lower Vindhyan Group hosts well-preserved stromatolites at this geosite. The paper assesses, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the potential of this stromatolite-bearing site and based on the available data and analysis considers it to be a strong candidate for a potential geoheritage site. SWOT analysis also suggests that the site has immense potential but at the same time, is in urgent need of geoconservation. Stromatolites provide valuable insights into the early life on Earth; the Stromatolite Park at Bhojunda holds a significant potential as a Geoheritage site due to its extensive geological exposure. Stromatolites are layered sedimentary structures formed mainly by photosynthetic microorganisms that include cyanobacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria, and <i>Pseudomonadota</i>. They produce cementing materials that bind sediments (sand and other rocky materials) to form “microbial mats”. In the present study, species from seven genera, namely <i>Conophyton cylindricus</i>, <i>Baicalia baicalica</i>, <i>Collenia columnaris</i>, and <i>Kussiella kussiensis</i>, <i>Tungussia</i> sp., <i>Stratifera rara</i>, and <i>Weedia walcott</i> are recorded suggesting a lower‒middle Riphean age. Petrographically, the Bhagwanpura Limestone is composed of fine grains of calcite and dolomite with dispersed grains of cryptocrystalline silica, iron oxide, chert fragments, and veinlets of quartz and calcite. Present analysis suggests that the Bhojunda Stromatolite Park meets all standards to become a Global Geopark. It is crucial to take the necessary actions to apply for UNESCO confirmation, advocating not just community-driven conservation of the region’s geological heritage but also fostering sustainable development by improving the native tribes’ standard of living.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"75 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141525137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2024-06-28DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00979-1
Mustafa Yavuz Çelik
{"title":"Characterization of İscehisar Andesite (Afyonkarahisar-Turkey), Used as a Building Stone Source of Historical Heritages from Ancient Times to the Present","authors":"Mustafa Yavuz Çelik","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00979-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00979-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Most historical structures that have survived to the present day are constructed from natural stones. One such natural stone is andesite. This study conducted a series of characterization studies on andesites used as building stones in Afyonkarahisar (Turkey). The building stones in question were determined by the petrographic-mineralogical (polarizing microscope, XRD, SEM), chemical, pore diameter distribution, and physico-mechanical properties. Although the İscehisar andesite is not as well-known as the İscehisar marble, it is a volcanic rock widely used in cultural heritage sites such as mosques, fountains, and bridges that have survived from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods to the present day in Afyonkarahisar. Despite the presence of pink, brown, and gray-black colors in the İscehisar andesite, it is evident that the preference in historical buildings is mainly for gray-black variants. Andesite, marble, and limestone, such as İscehisar Bridge from the Hellenistic period, Kırkgöz Bridge from the Byzantine era, Altıgöz Bridge from the Seljuk period, and Kanlı Göl Bridge from the Ottoman period, were used together in various combinations. Mosques are another group of structures in which andesite and other volcanic rocks are heavily used, such as bridges. While tuff is commonly used in examples of Seljuk and Ottoman architecture that have survived to the present day, andesite and other volcanic rocks along with bricks have also been used to construct dozens of mosques. Andesites found in the İscehisar region continue to be widely extracted, cut, and shaped using different surface processing techniques and are used today.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"158 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141504206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2024-06-18DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00975-5
Archana Das, K. C. Nauriyal, S. P. Prizomwala, Chinmoyee Borgohain, Utkarsh R. Pandey, Chintan Vedpathak, D. R. Kouli, N. Deori, C. Hassan
{"title":"Geoheritage of Charaideo Moidams (Assam, India): a Tale of Human Resilience and Man-Environment Relationship","authors":"Archana Das, K. C. Nauriyal, S. P. Prizomwala, Chinmoyee Borgohain, Utkarsh R. Pandey, Chintan Vedpathak, D. R. Kouli, N. Deori, C. Hassan","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00975-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00975-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The medieval period Ahom dynasty which ruled Assam in North-East India from 13th to 19th century CE has unique Moidams (or Maidams) built all across the upper Brahmaputra valley in Assam. The Moidams and history of Ahom rulers with reference to their relationship with landscape of the region has been scantily studied till date. The Moidams were built on piedmont to alluvial zone of the colluvial deposits of the Naga Thrust, located in the North-East part of Assam in India. The transit of Ahom rulers from Yunnan (China borderlands to Charaideo, Assam, India), where the Ahoms established their first capital, via Burma (Myanmar) and Nagaland showcases a unique historical account of the region. The lifestyle, practices and the quest for newer land of the Ahoms, which would justify their long-term occupational goals, also highlighted their understanding of climate, tectonics and man-environment relationships. The architecture of Moidams and their sitting at the piedmont at Charaideo is unique in terms of their long-standing history of 600 years in the face of natural wrath of disasters like earthquakes and seasonal floods. Based upon detailed investigation and assessment carried out by several researchers for geoheritage sites and geoarcheosites, the Moidams at Charaideo, best exemplifies. The Moidam sites warrants detailed geological, geophysical and botanical investigation aspects for illuminating its rich cultural history in light of man-environment / anthropological landscape characteristics.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141504207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2024-06-18DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00972-8
S. Mancini, F. Gambino, G. A. Dino
{"title":"Georesources in Cultural Heritage: the Mg/Ca Ratio in Lime as a Marker of Variations in the Exploitation of Lime Stones in the Vercelli Area (Piemonte, Italy) over the Centuries","authors":"S. Mancini, F. Gambino, G. A. Dino","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00972-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00972-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Archaeological investigations in the rural settlements of the Po Valley in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy, particularly in the Monferrato area, have revealed a wide range of structures dating from the Roman to the Early Medieval periods. This rural architecture is of great heritage value, as it provides insights into the historical development of Piedmont.</p><p>This paper focuses on the analysis of lime, one of the oldest and most important building materials, used as binder of bedding mortars of three archaeological rural buildings sites dating from the Early Roman imperial Period to the Late Antique phases of medieval fortified centers of Piedmont region.</p><p>A low-cost and efficient diagnostic geochemical-based method based on the characterization of two oxides present in the lime of mortars and in carbonate rocks of the area (MgO and CaO) is presented. Exploited limestone quarries exploited often have a fairly constant chemical composition and therefore a typical geological Mg/Ca ratio. The variation in this ratio is useful for the relative dating of building walls and for identifying of geological formations and quarries possibly used during the different architectural phases. This paper focuses on this second objective: the study of potential supply areas across the ages related to the ancient communication routes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"78 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141504208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2024-05-27DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00964-8
B. Linol, M. Doucouré, J. Anderson, F. Toteu, W. Miller, P. Vale, P. Hoffman, G. I. H. Kerley, R. Auerbach, C. Thiart, M. Meghraoui, N. Dhliwayo, J. Master, F. Genin, T. Dembaremba, B. van Heerden, J. Unite, A. May, P. Mathias, M. Minguzzi, T. de Wit
{"title":"Africa Alive Corridors: Transdisciplinary Research based on African Footprints","authors":"B. Linol, M. Doucouré, J. Anderson, F. Toteu, W. Miller, P. Vale, P. Hoffman, G. I. H. Kerley, R. Auerbach, C. Thiart, M. Meghraoui, N. Dhliwayo, J. Master, F. Genin, T. Dembaremba, B. van Heerden, J. Unite, A. May, P. Mathias, M. Minguzzi, T. de Wit","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00964-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00964-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The idea of Africa Alive Corridors (AAC) evolved from Gondwana geological mapping to a comprehensive, more inclusive and dynamic approach to transdisciplinary research known as Earth Stewardship Science. Twenty designated corridors explore the geo-biological and cultural heritage of different regions of Africa over various periods, from deep time to the Anthropocene. Each corridor reveals a specific lens through which to investigate some of the rich scientific narratives embedded within it. The concept also facilitates learning and knowledge exchange across numerous disciplines: archeology, geology, geophysics, oceanography, glaciology, biology, botany, ecology, agriculture, engineering, spatial statistics, social sciences, and the humanities. This contribution analyses ten selected corridors in southern and western Africa, the Congo Basin, East Africa, and Madagascar. The various research themes explored include Earth impact hazard, origins of humankind, Snowball Earth, coastal food systems and conservation, the biogeography of lemurs, human settlement dynamics in Cameroon, tectonically linked earthquake occurrences in Algeria and Morocco, modelling land-use changes in the Western Rift Valley, trades and civilizations of the Mali Empire, Mbira music, and contemporary art. The ongoing work on these—and ten other—corridors has considerable potential to host new international collaborations to develop the links between society and natural sciences in Africa. Ultimately, AAC will benefit all stakeholders, especially the youth, in understanding and responding to societal needs and current global challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"76 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141165509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeoheritagePub Date : 2024-05-27DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00965-7
Sevgi Bilgiç, Enes Karadeniz, Selman Er
{"title":"Enhancing Geosıte Accessibility Assessment: A New Mcdm Model","authors":"Sevgi Bilgiç, Enes Karadeniz, Selman Er","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00965-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00965-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Geosites are significant geological heritage areas that serve as field laboratories for researchers. They offer insights into geological processes that have occurred from the past to the present and hold high potential for geotourism. To preserve and make geosites sustainable, their accessibility is a prerequisite. For this purpose, a model consisting of various parameters was developed in accordance with the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method, identifying 183 geosite areas that have been determined by experts and are subjects of literature. As a result, four evaluation criteria were established, including accessibility, access to service/attractiveness areas, scientific importance, and geomorphological features. Taking these parameters into account, a collective evaluation map was obtained using GIS-based AHP, drawing upon literature and expert opinions. The study concluded that the most critical parameter for accessibility to geosites is accessibility itself, accounting for 50% of the importance. Other parameters have influenced the accessibility of geosites in the following order of importance: 25% land, 15% scientific importance, and 10% service/attractiveness. Consequently, the areas where accessibility to geosites in Türkiye is most convenient are those with the highest road density. Road density, in turn, exhibits a pattern based on the characteristics of topography, population, and trade factors. Additionally, a parallel outcome emerged between areas that are more suitable in terms of these factors and the density of geosites. As a validation of the newly created model, the accessibility of Türkiye's areas recognized by UNESCO was found to be very high, indicating that the model is a suitable and convenient method that can be applied to different areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141165505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}