Assessment of Geological Heritage Sites and Their Significance for Geotouristic Exploitation: The Case of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaki Islands, Ionian Sea, Greece
Geological heritage or geoheritage refers to the total of geosites, i.e., areas of high geological interest in a given area. Geosites have a high potential of attracting geotourists, thus contributing to the development of the local economy. Assessing sites of geological interest can contribute to t...
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/2/55 |
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| author | Evangelos Spyrou Maria V. Triantaphyllou Theodora Tsourou Emmanuel Vassilakis Christos Asimakopoulos Aliki Konsolaki Dimitris Markakis Dimitra Marketou-Galari Athanasios Skentos |
| author_facet | Evangelos Spyrou Maria V. Triantaphyllou Theodora Tsourou Emmanuel Vassilakis Christos Asimakopoulos Aliki Konsolaki Dimitris Markakis Dimitra Marketou-Galari Athanasios Skentos |
| author_sort | Evangelos Spyrou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Geological heritage or geoheritage refers to the total of geosites, i.e., areas of high geological interest in a given area. Geosites have a high potential of attracting geotourists, thus contributing to the development of the local economy. Assessing sites of geological interest can contribute to their promotion, as well as their preservation and protection. Greece’s geotectonic position in the convergent zone between the African and Eurasian plates has contributed to the existence of a considerable wealth of geosites, with the particularly active geotectonic region of the Ionian Sea characterized as a geoheritage hotspot. The purpose of this study is the selection of several such sites from the islands of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaki and their assessment regarding their scientific, environmental, cultural, economic and aesthetic value. The most representative sites for the individual disciplines of geology (e.g., geomorphology, tectonics, stratigraphy and palaeontology) have been chosen, mapped and assessed, while indicative georoutes are proposed, which could aid the island’s geotouristic promotion to geologist and non-geologist future visitors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:52:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a13e3f160fc3451491b57d0cf5b739bc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:52:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a13e3f160fc3451491b57d0cf5b739bc2023-11-23T20:06:18ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632022-01-011225510.3390/geosciences12020055Assessment of Geological Heritage Sites and Their Significance for Geotouristic Exploitation: The Case of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaki Islands, Ionian Sea, GreeceEvangelos Spyrou0Maria V. Triantaphyllou1Theodora Tsourou2Emmanuel Vassilakis3Christos Asimakopoulos4Aliki Konsolaki5Dimitris Markakis6Dimitra Marketou-Galari7Athanasios Skentos8Department of Geography and Climatology, Faculty of Geology and Geo-Environment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Historical Geology and Palaeontology, Faculty of Geology and Geo-Environment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Historical Geology and Palaeontology, Faculty of Geology and Geo-Environment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Geography and Climatology, Faculty of Geology and Geo-Environment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Geography and Climatology, Faculty of Geology and Geo-Environment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Geography and Climatology, Faculty of Geology and Geo-Environment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Geography and Climatology, Faculty of Geology and Geo-Environment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Historical Geology and Palaeontology, Faculty of Geology and Geo-Environment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Historical Geology and Palaeontology, Faculty of Geology and Geo-Environment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis, 15784 Athens, GreeceGeological heritage or geoheritage refers to the total of geosites, i.e., areas of high geological interest in a given area. Geosites have a high potential of attracting geotourists, thus contributing to the development of the local economy. Assessing sites of geological interest can contribute to their promotion, as well as their preservation and protection. Greece’s geotectonic position in the convergent zone between the African and Eurasian plates has contributed to the existence of a considerable wealth of geosites, with the particularly active geotectonic region of the Ionian Sea characterized as a geoheritage hotspot. The purpose of this study is the selection of several such sites from the islands of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaki and their assessment regarding their scientific, environmental, cultural, economic and aesthetic value. The most representative sites for the individual disciplines of geology (e.g., geomorphology, tectonics, stratigraphy and palaeontology) have been chosen, mapped and assessed, while indicative georoutes are proposed, which could aid the island’s geotouristic promotion to geologist and non-geologist future visitors.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/2/55geositesgeoheritagegeotourismgeoroutesIonian islands |
| spellingShingle | Evangelos Spyrou Maria V. Triantaphyllou Theodora Tsourou Emmanuel Vassilakis Christos Asimakopoulos Aliki Konsolaki Dimitris Markakis Dimitra Marketou-Galari Athanasios Skentos Assessment of Geological Heritage Sites and Their Significance for Geotouristic Exploitation: The Case of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaki Islands, Ionian Sea, Greece Geosciences geosites geoheritage geotourism georoutes Ionian islands |
| title | Assessment of Geological Heritage Sites and Their Significance for Geotouristic Exploitation: The Case of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaki Islands, Ionian Sea, Greece |
| title_full | Assessment of Geological Heritage Sites and Their Significance for Geotouristic Exploitation: The Case of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaki Islands, Ionian Sea, Greece |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Geological Heritage Sites and Their Significance for Geotouristic Exploitation: The Case of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaki Islands, Ionian Sea, Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Geological Heritage Sites and Their Significance for Geotouristic Exploitation: The Case of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaki Islands, Ionian Sea, Greece |
| title_short | Assessment of Geological Heritage Sites and Their Significance for Geotouristic Exploitation: The Case of Lefkas, Meganisi, Kefalonia and Ithaki Islands, Ionian Sea, Greece |
| title_sort | assessment of geological heritage sites and their significance for geotouristic exploitation the case of lefkas meganisi kefalonia and ithaki islands ionian sea greece |
| topic | geosites geoheritage geotourism georoutes Ionian islands |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/2/55 |
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