Aesthetics-based classification of geological structures in outcrops for geotourism purposes: a tentative proposal
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Date
2017-05
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Publisher
Instytut Geologii UAM
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Abstract
The current growth in geotourism requires an urgent development of classifications of geological features on the basis
of criteria that are relevant to tourist perceptions. It appears that structure-related patterns are especially attractive for
geotourists. Consideration of the main criteria by which tourists judge beauty and observations made in the geodiversity
hotspot of the Western Caucasus allow us to propose a tentative aesthetics-based classification of geological structures
in outcrops, with two classes and four subclasses. It is possible to distinguish between regular and quasi-regular
patterns (i.e., striped and lined and contorted patterns) and irregular and complex patterns (paysage and sculptured
patterns). Typical examples of each case are found both in the study area and on a global scale. The application of the
proposed classification permits to emphasise features of interest to a broad range of tourists. Aesthetics-based (i.e.,
non-geological) classifications are necessary to take into account visions and attitudes of visitors.
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Keywords
geological heritage, stratification, fault, fold, epikarst, Western Caucasus, Russia
Citation
Geologos, 2017, 23, 1, 45-52
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ISBN
978-83-232187-4-6
ISSN
1426-8981