The Khadzhokh Canyon System—An Important Geosite of the Western Caucasus
True diversity of geological heritage sites (geosites) is yet to be fully understood. New field studies of the Khadzhokh Canyon and its vicinities in the Western Caucasus (Mountainous Adygeya tourist destination, southwestern Russia) have allowed characterizing its geoheritage. Multiple unique featu...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/5/181 |
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| author | Anna V. Mikhailenko Dmitry A. Ruban Vladimir A. Ermolaev |
| author_facet | Anna V. Mikhailenko Dmitry A. Ruban Vladimir A. Ermolaev |
| author_sort | Anna V. Mikhailenko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | True diversity of geological heritage sites (geosites) is yet to be fully understood. New field studies of the Khadzhokh Canyon and its vicinities in the Western Caucasus (Mountainous Adygeya tourist destination, southwestern Russia) have allowed characterizing its geoheritage. Multiple unique features are assigned to geomorphological, stratigraphical, paleontological, palaeogeographical, sedimentary, tectonic, hydro(geo)logical, and coupled economical and geoexplorationgeoheritage types. This geoheritage is highlycomplex, and its rank is national. The unique features include (but not limited to) three canyons, Triassic stratigraphical sections, Late Jurassic coral reef, megaclast accumulations, chevron folds, and waterfalls. The geoheritage is distributed along the Khadzhokh Canyon and its branches. The configuration of thisgeositemakes it possible to propose a new category, namely dendritic geosites distinguished by continuous occurrence of geoheritage via branching stripes. Such geosites can be either natural (determined by dendritic drainage network and deep valley incision) or anthropogenic (determined by dendritic road network with lengthy road cuttings). In the former case, geosites are also geomorphosites and host viewpoint geosites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:50:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-62adcddc932d4e49ac2ed6619148bb02 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:50:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-62adcddc932d4e49ac2ed6619148bb022023-11-20T00:26:34ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632020-05-0110518110.3390/geosciences10050181The Khadzhokh Canyon System—An Important Geosite of the Western CaucasusAnna V. Mikhailenko0Dmitry A. Ruban1Vladimir A. Ermolaev2Department of Physical Geography, Ecology, and Nature Protection, Institute of Earth Sciences, Southern Federal University, Zorge Street 40, 344090 Rostov-on-Don, RussiaK.G. Razumovsky Moscow State University of Technologies and Management (The First Cossack University), Zemlyanoy Val Street 73, 109004 Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Commodity Science and Expertise, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Stremyanny Lane 36, 117997 Moscow, RussiaTrue diversity of geological heritage sites (geosites) is yet to be fully understood. New field studies of the Khadzhokh Canyon and its vicinities in the Western Caucasus (Mountainous Adygeya tourist destination, southwestern Russia) have allowed characterizing its geoheritage. Multiple unique features are assigned to geomorphological, stratigraphical, paleontological, palaeogeographical, sedimentary, tectonic, hydro(geo)logical, and coupled economical and geoexplorationgeoheritage types. This geoheritage is highlycomplex, and its rank is national. The unique features include (but not limited to) three canyons, Triassic stratigraphical sections, Late Jurassic coral reef, megaclast accumulations, chevron folds, and waterfalls. The geoheritage is distributed along the Khadzhokh Canyon and its branches. The configuration of thisgeositemakes it possible to propose a new category, namely dendritic geosites distinguished by continuous occurrence of geoheritage via branching stripes. Such geosites can be either natural (determined by dendritic drainage network and deep valley incision) or anthropogenic (determined by dendritic road network with lengthy road cuttings). In the former case, geosites are also geomorphosites and host viewpoint geosites.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/5/181cuesta rangegeoheritagejurassicRussiatethyan geologytriassic |
| spellingShingle | Anna V. Mikhailenko Dmitry A. Ruban Vladimir A. Ermolaev The Khadzhokh Canyon System—An Important Geosite of the Western Caucasus Geosciences cuesta range geoheritage jurassic Russia tethyan geology triassic |
| title | The Khadzhokh Canyon System—An Important Geosite of the Western Caucasus |
| title_full | The Khadzhokh Canyon System—An Important Geosite of the Western Caucasus |
| title_fullStr | The Khadzhokh Canyon System—An Important Geosite of the Western Caucasus |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Khadzhokh Canyon System—An Important Geosite of the Western Caucasus |
| title_short | The Khadzhokh Canyon System—An Important Geosite of the Western Caucasus |
| title_sort | khadzhokh canyon system an important geosite of the western caucasus |
| topic | cuesta range geoheritage jurassic Russia tethyan geology triassic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/5/181 |
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