GeoheritagePub Date : 2024-03-09DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00940-2
{"title":"Geotouristic Approach to the Elements of Geocultural Heritage by Using UGAM Model: UNESCO World Heritage Site Felix Romuliana (Zaječar, Serbia)","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00940-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00940-2","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>This article presents a new Urban Geoheritage Assessment Model (UGAM) for the tourism potential of urban geoheritage. The model was applied to the well-known archaeological site Felix Romuliana (Serbia), so as to determine if the site has the potential to become an urban geosite. To support the UGAM model, a mineralogical-petrographical examination of the building stone available to visitors (both on the site and in the Zaječar National Museum) was carried out, and geological outcrops near the site were observed. The obtained results indicate a significant petrographic diversity, with igneous (volcanic subgroup) rocks (hornblende andesite, red porphyry), along with sedimentary rocks (sandstone, lumachella), volcaniclastic rocks (volcaniclastic sandstone) and metamorphic (marbles) rocks. By comparing the obtained results with the local geology, two groups of building stones were recognised: a) stones of local provenience (hornblende andesite, lumachella, sandstone and volcaniclastic sandstone) and b) imported stones (red porphyry and marbles). UGAM parameters, such as educational potential, protection level, visitor safety, and promotional activities, confirmed that Felix Romuliana has great potential for urban geotourism development. However, parameters related to tourist infrastructure, such as the information centre, local accommodations, and restaurant services are minimal, and would need to be upgraded. The results of this study can inform policymakers, local governments and other interested stakeholders whether and how to develop urban geotourism in the future at Felix Romuliana.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"65 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140074749","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 : 2024-03-08DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00939-9
V. Alfama, M. H. Henriques, A. Barros
{"title":"The Challenging Nature of Volcanic Heritage: The Fogo Island (Cabo Verde, W Africa)","authors":"V. Alfama, M. H. Henriques, A. Barros","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00939-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00939-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Many volcanic landscapes reflect the essence of volcanism and are particularly attractive to different kinds of visitors, featuring the concept of volcanic geoheritage. The expressiveness of volcanic processes is exacerbated in active volcanoes, which increasingly attracts geotourism, despite the natural hazards associated to such geological environment. This work reports how the 2014–2015 eruption of the Fogo volcano at Cabo Verde (West Africa) affected the geoheritage of the central part of the caldera, classified since 2003 as Natural Park, and which caused the destruction of several villages but enabled the occurrence of new geosites. Chã das Caldeiras is the only inhabited area within the perimeter of the park and the unique case of human settlement inside the crater of an active volcano. Besides agriculture, geotourism is an important economic activity for the local communities, and both were devastated after the eruption. However, after the 2014–2015 crisis and despite the eruption risk the local population decided to return to the affected villages and re-start their former life, including geotourism which has since recorded enormous growth. The volcanic geoheritage has dynamic nature that stand out from the majority of stable geosites, with periodic destruction of geosites and corresponding geotouristic infrastructures, and the emergence of new geosites. But despite the costs of rehabilitating, this type of geoheritage must be seen as an economic asset capable of attracting visitors to travel to destinations subject to the risk of eruptions, therefore contributing to foster the typical community-based tourism of normally inhospitable territories.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"280 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140074846","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 : 2024-03-04DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00936-y
{"title":"Unveiling the Legacy of the Nineteenth Century Riotinto Mining Railway: From Historic Heritage to Thriving Tourist Attraction","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00936-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00936-y","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>The Riotinto mining railway is a remarkable construction. Stretching an impressive 348 km it was built between 1873 and 1875 to transport minerals from Riotinto’s mining operations to the international port of Huelva. At its height in the 1950’s, this monumental railway network had a fleet of 162 locomotives (mostly steam but also diesel and electric) and around 3,300 freight cars and carriages. Towards the end of the 1960’s the line began to fall into disuse, and it was closed entirely in 1984. Since the establishment of the Rio Tinto Foundation in 1987, dedicated efforts have been made to preserve this invaluable railway heritage and today, the fruits of their labor can be enjoyed at the Riotinto Mining Park where tourists can ride a fully restored 22 km section of this historic rail network. The park is highly successful and has recovered strongly after the COVID-19 pandemic attracting a record 96,935 visitors in 2022. The majority of the park’s tourists are from Spain but also a significant number are international (principally from Germany) highlighting the global importance of this site and the railway as a sustainable heritage tourism destination. Taking the restoration of the Riotinto mining railway as a case study, we aim to demonstrate the transformative power of the preservation and restoration of industrial heritage.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140044657","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 : 2024-03-02DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00934-0
Urszula Kaźmierczak, Marek W. Lorenc, Paweł Marek, Danuta Rajczakowska
{"title":"Examples of Good Practices in the Reclamation and Use of Abandoned Quarries","authors":"Urszula Kaźmierczak, Marek W. Lorenc, Paweł Marek, Danuta Rajczakowska","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00934-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00934-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Areas after the completion of the opencast exploitation of rock resources, require an appropriate approach in terms of choosing the direction of reclamation, and then development adapted to the proposed way of reclamation. These processes should lead to obtaining such natural and/or utility values so that the areas covered by them could be both socially accessible and have conditions for natural development. This article presents interesting examples that can successfully become good practices related to the reclamation and development of post-mining areas. All the discussed cases indicate an interesting approach of the analyzed areas in terms of the policy of local government authorities, as well as the interests of the local population. Due to perfectly illustrated long-term work of people and the changing methods and equipment over time, these places should also be considered as cultural heritage sites.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140018709","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 : 2024-02-21DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00935-z
{"title":"From Geoheritage to Geosites at the Oeste Aspiring Geopark (Portugal)","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00935-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00935-z","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>Geoheritage and geosites have been assessed as part of the work supporting the application of the Oeste Aspiring Geopark, in West Central Portugal, for an UNESCO Global Geopark. The geological framework is presented, describing the regional evolution of the Lusitanian Basin, related to the Mesozoic opening of the North Atlantic, since the Late Triassic until the Late Cretaceous, followed by the Cenozoic inversion of the basin, related to the Alpine orogeny. The overall geodiversity of the territory is described, and the main geological highlights are presented.</p> <p>Within the scope and objectives of a Geopark, the criteria for the definition of geosites are presented and discussed. Geoconservation, geoeducation and geotourism have been considered to define 80 geosites, with different characteristics, purposes, relevance and potential. Six different encompassing themes have been defined, each one with a specific storytelling. Geoconservation issues are also addressed, showing the importance of protection strategies for the geosites at a local scale.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139926076","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 : 2024-02-20DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00938-w
Enrico Cameron
{"title":"Objectivity in Geosites Inventorying and Assessment Methods","authors":"Enrico Cameron","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00938-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00938-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The literature on geosites inventorying and assessment methods often mentions the issue of objectivity but lacks a detailed discussion of its nature. Indeed, developments in the philosophy and practice of science have shown that objectivity is a complex, multifaceted concept, making its assessment challenging in specific situations. This paper, therefore, draws from this broader debate on objectivity in order to examine and possibly enhance its presence in the aforesaid methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139925823","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 : 2024-02-19DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00925-1
Yulan Yuan, Yujia Gao, Ming-Kuang Chung
{"title":"Tourism Environmental Impact Evaluation Framework (TEIEF): Using VGI Data to Assess the Ecological Impact of Tourism in the Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark of China","authors":"Yulan Yuan, Yujia Gao, Ming-Kuang Chung","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00925-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00925-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Geoparks play a vital role in safeguarding unique landscapes, but the surge in tourist activity in these areas has raised concerns regarding their ecological impact. To address this issue, this study develops the <i>Tourism Environmental Impact Evaluation Framework</i> (TEIEF), a monitoring tool for evaluating the Ecological impact of tourism in geoparks. The Environmental impact of tourism on <i>Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark of China</i> (Danxiashan) is analyzed from multi-year data, revealing a significant expansion of tourism environmental impact between 2009 and 2018. To enhance the precision of this analysis, geotagged photo data from social media were incorporated to discern the spatial distribution and intensity of visitor activity. The data resolution was refined from 1 km to 100 m to allow for a more granular assessment of the geographical extent of this impact, providing a detailed and nuanced understanding of the affected area. The findings underscore the importance of long-term monitoring in geoparks to support sustainable environmental planning and landscape conservation. This study pioneers the applications of Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) data to quantify the magnitude of tourism impact, thereby providing a tool to estimate the environmental consequences of tourism development.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139925898","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 : 2024-02-16DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00927-z
Mustapha El Hamidy, Ezzoura Errami, Jamal El Kabouri, Mohamed Naim, Abdelaziz Assouka, Abdelkhaleq Ait Ben Youssef, Fatima El Bchari
{"title":"Jbel Irhoud Geosite, the Cradle of Humanity (Youssoufia Province, Marrakech-Safi region, Morocco): Evaluation and Valorization of the Geological Heritage for Geoeducation and Geotourism Purposes","authors":"Mustapha El Hamidy, Ezzoura Errami, Jamal El Kabouri, Mohamed Naim, Abdelaziz Assouka, Abdelkhaleq Ait Ben Youssef, Fatima El Bchari","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00927-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00927-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To meet the objectives of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s 2063 Agenda for inclusive and sustainable development, it is necessary to pay greater attention to development strategies that focus on geoheritage, particularly in the context of global climate change. Furthermore, the surge in scientific research within this domain attests to a growing interest in the preservation and valorization of geoheritage. The current study seeks to contribute to this dynamic by conducting an evaluation and valorization of the Jbel Irhoud geosite, the cradle of humanity that hosts the oldest remains of homosapiens globally. This site is included in the geoheritage inventory project of Youssoufia province within the administrative region of Marrakech-Safi. This research aims to develop indices for assessing tourism and educational values on scales from 1 to 10, using criteria covering the scientific, ecological, cultural, aesthetic, economic, and potential use aspects of a geosite. Given its geographical position and geological diversity, the study describes the high geoeducational and geotouristic potential of the Ighoud geosite that can be exploited to improve the living conditions of its population and accelerate sustainable local socio-economic development by creating new income-generating activities. This initiative is important in a region with high natural potential but facing a high rate of unemployment and difficult natural conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"169 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139762613","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 : 2024-02-15DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00932-2
Subhajit Sen, Mohamed O. Abouelresh, Thadickal V. Joydas, Ali Almusabeh, Fahad S. Al-Ismail, Bruno Pulido
{"title":"Geoheritage and Geotourism Potential of NEOM, Saudi Arabia: Linking Geoethics, Geoconservation, and Geotourism","authors":"Subhajit Sen, Mohamed O. Abouelresh, Thadickal V. Joydas, Ali Almusabeh, Fahad S. Al-Ismail, Bruno Pulido","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00932-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00932-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>NEOM in the northwestern part of Saudi Arabia comprises of range of geodiversity like desert, mountain, and coast. This paper is a pioneering approach to document the geoheritage value of key landforms with outstanding scientific, educational, touristic, and additional value. The objective of this study is to prepare an inventory of the key geosites. The methodology involves the identification of geosites and geoheritage assessment and identifies geotourism potential. The study revealed ten key geosites, classified into geomorphological, geological, and geoarchaeological sites. Major key landforms are canyon, yardang, honeycomb structure, columnar basaltic lava, syn- and post-sedimentary deformation, denuded landscape, gullies in evaporite, alluvial fan, dyke swarm, and valley. The tectonic process in different geological phases formed various-scale deformations and fault structures, modified by rainfall and fluvial systems, including various gully and alluvial fans. Further, substantial shifting of the environment from the fluvial to the aeolian environment and weathering along the tectonic structures within a single territory of NEOM represent the geodiversity. Biodiversity and archaeological imprint in the geosites enhanced the additional value of the geosite. The study recommends that these ten sites be conserved and promoted for geotourism through the involvement of academicians, policymakers, and local people.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"176 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139762331","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 : 2024-02-15DOI: 10.1007/s12371-024-00923-3
Oğuz Mülayim, Fatih Köroğlu, Onur Alkaç
{"title":"Industrial Geotourism and Geoeducation Potential of SE Türkiye: A Case Study of the Petroleum Industry in the Adıyaman Region","authors":"Oğuz Mülayim, Fatih Köroğlu, Onur Alkaç","doi":"10.1007/s12371-024-00923-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00923-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Adıyaman (SE Türkiye) has a spectacular geological record and high-quality outcrops of petroleum systems. Türkiye is an important resource area for the petroleum industry. The petroleum sector impacts development and provides opportunities for geotourism and geoeducation. Most of these sedimentary and tectonically related geological records form sites relevant to petroleum geology that provide favourable conditions for geoeducational activities with special emphasis on the framework of hydrocarbon exploration models in fieldwork. These georoutes should be popularised for those who work in the petroleum industry, colleagues who are not yet familiar with them and are interested in these concepts, and even for students who are leaning in this direction. This study is about geotourism at sites that are related to the petroleum industry, which could serve as pioneering examples in SE Türkiye and their potential as industrial geotourism resources. In addition, all of these sites are ideal for conducting various geoeducational and geotourism activities for the purposes of geoconservation. Due to the uniqueness of this study, the industrial geoheritage of Adıyaman will become more accessible for scientific research and play an important role in geoeducation and as a potential geotourism resource.</p>","PeriodicalId":48924,"journal":{"name":"Geoheritage","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139762339","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}