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The paper presents abiotic resources which are located in a small town in central Poland. They remain unknown to authorities and inhabitants. For the first time they are illustrated in a scientific paper. The objects of local geological heritage point to geodiversity of this district town in the south-western Mazovia. When the geodiversity is interpreted in a simple, an understandable way, it may become attractive for tourists. We show how abiotic resources located within an urban area can be used to support urban geotourism development. The scientific, educational and aesthetic values of these resources may create the town image in accordance with the principles of environmental protection.

The geotourism potential of ten geosites, occurring within the Drawskie Lake District, north-western Poland, was evaluated to demonstrate the need for the establishment of a geopark named “Postglacial land of the Drawa and Dębnica rivers”. Each site was investigated in respect of its scientific (geological and geomorphological), educational, economic, conservation, and added values. It has been found that two geosites, being also cultural heritage sites (Drahim Castle and Pottery Settlement in Sikory), have the greatest geotourism potential. Different aspects of inanimate nature are promoted in both geosites. Thanks to the existence of such objects there is a good chance for the successful development of geotourism, which is a tool for the sustainable socio-economic development of the region.

In the urbanized area of Pruszków there are objects of geological and geomorphological heritage, i.e. objects of inanimate nature. They include glacier-originated relief and deposits: Pliocene clays, till, Scandinavian boulders and water. Their considerable differentiation proves geodiversity of this city, lying in south-western Mazovia. Some of them have potential to become geotouristic attractions of this region. Unfortunately, the city authorities, and consequently the city residents are not aware of the value of these assets. The lack of dissemination of knowledge about the less known natural resources causes that they remain unused in the sustainable development of the municipality and the city, as well as in shaping the image of the city. W artykule przedstawiono dziedzictwo geologiczne małego mazowieckiego miasta, które stanowi potencjał rozwoju geoturystyki miejskiej. Od zaangażowania lokalnych władz samorządowych w zagospodarowanie elementów przyrody nieożywionej do pełnienia funkcji turystycznych z zachowaniem zasad ochrony przyrody zależy możliwość czerpania korzyści ekonomicznych z rozwijającej się zrównoważonej geoturystyki.

The chapter presents the different abiotic resources of Pruszkow that show evidence of geodiversity in this district town located in central Mazovia, Poland. Some of the objects described are certain to become urban geotourist points of interest. Unfortunately, the municipal authorities and also the inhabitants are unaware of the scientific, educational, and aesthetic value of these resources. That is why they remain unused in the sustainable development of the district and town as well as in the creation of the town’s image. The chapter suggests that some abiotic elements of nature in Pruszkow should be adapted for touristic purposes in accordance with the principles of environmental protection.

GEODIVERSITY OF THE DRAWA NATIONAL PARK, NW POLAND Abstract. This article aims to identify and evaluate geodiversity as well as geotouristic attractiveness of the Drawa National Park (DPN), north-western Poland, including evaluation of individual geosites. As a consequence, the most precious geotouristic values of the DPN are presented. The ranking method of basic fields and geosites was used. Criteria of evaluation of the area included as follows: terrain relief, the presence of petrographic objects, hydrographic network, special biological values protected by the law, accessibility for tourists, and cultural and added values. Geosites were evaluated in terms of geological and geomorphological values, added values and practical values. The analysis indicates 125 basic fields of low geodiversity (valuable qualities of natural and cultural heritage occur singly, the area is difficult to access, and there are no added values). Fifty basic fields are indicated by moderate geodiversity. They are located along the Drawa and Plociczna rivers. These fields were also evaluated as moderately attractive. The interesting hydrographic objects are generally not accompanied by the most attractive geomorphological ones. The elements that increase to some extent the geodiversity of the area are geosites of precious technical-cultural and historical heritage. Two fields: R13 and R14 are characterized by high geodiversity, because the most precious natural values are accompanied by the cultural ones. The varied relief of diversified genesis has an easy access; the area shows special hydrographic and biological values. The added values, appreciated by tourists, are frequent. This small area of 2 km 2 has a high geotouristic potential. Therefore, the predicted human impact in attractive or very attractive places requires an appropriate action to preserve and protect geomorphological/ inanimate heritage.