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Ordovician tsunamis have been hypothesized for more than 25 years, but the related knowledge is yet to be systematized. The published sources bearing the pieces of this knowledge were collected in the course of the specialized bibliographical survey, and these pieces of evidence were summarized and interpreted with special attention to the spatiotemporal distribution of Ordovician tsunamis. It is found that the latter were reported from many places of the world (24 localities are established), which represent the Gondwana periphery, some isolated continental blocks, and terranes. Tsunamis were hypothesized for all epochs of the considered period, but the evidence is especially numerous for the Middle Ordovician. The degree of certainty of the interpretations of these tsunamis is chiefly moderate. It appears that only a tiny portion of Ordovician tsunamis is known, but the amount of available information is expected, taking into account the possibility of finding very ancient tsunamis. The outcomes of this study contribute to a better awareness of the world’s geoheritage resources. The established localities representing Ordovician tsunamis can be considered potential geosites, two of which are promising start points for further, field-based research.

Geoconservation should be incorporated in the discussions regarding climate change impacts on geoheritage degradation, especially in coastal areas that are directly affected by extreme climate events. The geoheritage degradation risk in protected areas of the Brazilian semi-arid coast was assessed using a quantitative method. A correlation with the tidal flooding hazard predicted with the climate change scenario was also considered for the study areas. The results show that most of the geosites assessed present a high risk of degradation due, mainly, to their exposure to negligence and inadequate public management regarding their uses. All geosites located in the plain areas are exposed to the risk of flooding by rising tides, which is associated with human action and leads to worrying scenarios regarding the loss of scientific and aesthetic values. The collected data support the need to rethink geoheritage management in protected areas and the mitigation of problems that may become major threats in conjunction with global climate change.

Mauritania contains geodiversity that helps to understand its formation and geodynamic evolution by the study and assessment of selected geosites. The aim of this paper is to identify geosites with scientific value and their potential use in promoting geotourism. Eight geosites were selected in order to assess their potential touristic use. The results were obtained using the methodology of Brilha (2016), which show clearly that “the Guelb ErRichat” is the most important geosite with a value of 360. This work could change the classical background about tourism in Mauritania by proposing the geotourism in addition to cultural tourism. This offers more benefits and supports for sustainable tourism development.

Egypt, one of the “cradles of civilization”, boasts a history spanning thousands of years, and a richness of archaeological and geosites, unmatched by many other countries in the world. Abu Roash is located within Greater Cairo, 9 km north of the Great Pyramids of Giza. In the present work worked out to establish a Geopark in the studied area, the main question of the study is can the area be a Geopark with local community support? A detailed field work was done in the study and enables the authors to put a detailed map for the future Geopark could be established in the area, The study also attempted, by means of a questionnaire, to assess the knowledge and attitudes of different stakeholders with regards to the geoheritage and the establishment of a geopark. The data compiled were intended to help formulate a strategy towards the design and promotion of what would be the first geopark in metropolitan Cairo. We believe that this geopark would offer geoeducational opportunities to the scientific community and to the general public at large, and would help expand geotourism in Egypt. Geotourism in Abu Roash can easily be coupled with tours of ancient Egyptian sites in the same area. This would provide significant economic benefits to residents of Abu Roash City.

The Danube Wine Region is one of the most important wine regions in Hungary with potential for geological and wine tourism. The research focused on basic issues related to the Monor wine community of the Danube wine region and the Monor cellar village, such as the consumer attitudes of the potential guests of the Monor cellar village and the wine community, the tourist skills and the consumers' knowledge of local products and values. We tried to find answers to our research questions in a complex way with primary questionnaire research and secondary data collection. We found that Monor wine is good, consumer attitudes underpin wine tourism developments. Monor's basic wine tourism skills are good, with valuable elements from a geotourism point of view, but most of the additional tourism services are not available at a satisfactory level.

Throughout the course of the last years, geoconservation is increasingly becoming on the A-list of topics holding more and more attention, given its importance on geoheritage regarding several scales: conservation, geotourism, geoeducation, and local development. Central Moroccan massif is one of the Variscan massifs that amass a number of geosites (sedimentological, basin genesis, petrographical, paleoclimate …) allowing the understanding of the relevant period of the Earth’s evolution and the geodynamics of the area, as well as, it contains geosites from the Ediacarian to Quaternary. In this perspective, the current work aimed to identify priority sites for geoconservation actions, geoeducation, and geotourism. All geological sites were inventoried and evaluated by a quantitative assessment relying on the scientific value, the degradation risk, the educational and touristic potential uses regarding both the protection priorities and the use management. The inventory of geosites and their quantitative assessment were performed by the method of Brilha (Geoheritage 8:119–134, 2016). The takeaways of this work may help improve the sustainable development of the area through the establishment of geopark, the implement of a geoconservation strategy and the geotourism action plan. In addition, it could be the path to achieve a global target of the sustainable goals in the Central Morocco area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thematic travel itineraries (e.g. architectural, archaeological, geological routes) can be instrumental in developing tourism in a given area. Travellers are expected to follow the itineraries to visit natural, cultural, historical, or religious places. This work aims to propose three geological routes (georoutes) in the Santa Elena province as a base for geotourism development. The methodology includes (i) the compilation of a geosite inventory that covers geosites and sites of industrial interest; (ii) the proposal of georoutes (GR-I, GR-II, and GR-III); (iii) the evaluation of the proposed routes through the Geotouristic Route Assessment (GtRAM) method and the study of reception capacity of the territory; (iv) the description of strategies for local geotourism development based on a SWOT analysis. The GtRAM method yields "average" values for all of the proposed routes (2.16/5, 2.68/5, and 2.74/5 for routes GR-I, GR-II, and GR-III, respectively). According to the reception capacity study, 85.2% of the geosites are in intrinsic use and are compatible with the proposed activities; therefore, the environmental impact of the georoutes is expected to be low. The SWOT analysis revealed that geotourism development is possible if based on strategic planning. In conclusion, the proposed georoutes will complement local economic activities, and thus contribute to local development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athens, the capital of Greece, is notable for its distinctive environment. Numerous archaeological and historical monuments contribute to the city's cultural wealth. These cultural monuments should include geological monuments, which are part of Athens' natural heritage. The Acropolis of Athens is one of the world's most recognizable and admired monuments, renowned for its archaeological, historical, and touristic significance. The Acropolis Rock is also a spectacular geological heritage monument. This article is about the Acropolis monuments, which are of great geological interest in addition to their cultural value. In recognizing each monument's unique geological features and quantitatively evaluating them, in terms of educational, touristic, cultural, and accessibility value, we document their special value in geoeducation and geotourism, not only for the public, but also for the scientific community. The potential for exploiting these geosites, in terms of geotourism, is very high and important not only for strengthening the local economy, but also for raising visitor awareness of environmental, geological, and geoconservation issues. However, the lack of understanding of geological heritage in relation to cultural heritage is underlined. The need for strategic educational planning and integration of geo-environmental education into school practice is evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity is an essential component of nature, relegating the aspects of geodiversity, which provides geological and landscape variety to a territory. However, the importance of geodiversity and its social, economic, educational, scientific, and technological impact on a region, are not well understood. This article measures the geoheritage values of Guayaquil, a port city in Ecuador, via surveys and analyses of variables, with the aim of proposing guidelines or strategies that promote the knowledge and diffusion of that geoheritage. Our methodology included (i) a review of historical landmarks of Guayaquil and their relationship with geodiversity, (ii) a survey and data tabulation, (iii) an analysis of the local population's perception of the city's geoheritage, and (iv) the development of geodiversity strategies using computer tools. Our results determined that people approach areas of interest because of each site's biodiversity and the available information about the site. Once there, they can obtain knowledge about the city's geology, geodiversity, and urban geotourism. Therefore, geoheritage is an essential consideration in establishing educational plans, initiatives, and promotion strategies. Furthermore, the identification of a city's heritage values following geoeducation, and the recognition by society of the city's geosites and their historical–scientific significance, will provide a basis for using geotourism in a context of sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Framing geoheritage thematically is important to reveal its diversity. Field investigations in the western part of the Greater Caucasus orogen have allowed for the characterization of three localities representing palaeoislands of the Caucasian Sea, which evolved as a semi-enclosed, marginal palaeosea during the Mesozoic. The Gosh locality represents coarse siliciclastics formed on the cliffed shore of the early Induan (Early Triassic) island. The Lipovy locality exhibits conglomerates accumulated on the shore of the early Toarcian (Early Jurassic) island due to erosion of the uplifted crystalline rocks. The Shakhan locality boasts a representative section of cross-bedded sandstones deposited on the alluvial plain of the Hauterivian (Early Cretaceous) island. All these localities are interpreted as geoheritage points, which are parts of larger geosites. Taken together, these points constitute thematic geoheritage sites reflecting the existence of palaeoislands in all Mesozoic periods, which is essential for the understanding of the evolution of the Caucasian Sea during this era. These localities are perfectly accessible, but visiting them requires professional interpretation. The importance of the thematic geoheritage makes its adequate management urgent (particularly, maintenance of geoheritage points, the installation of interpretive panels, and promotion). A geoexcursion route is proposed to facilitate geotouristic exploitation of the characterized geoheritage sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of Augmented Reality (AR), a technology that complements and enriches the live view of a place with virtual elements, is a relatively new approach that has been demonstrated to be useful as an educational tool for the interpretation of geological and geographic features. In addition, it is a technology consistent with challenges related to enhancing the geotourism experience in geologically diverse terrains, and consistent with the sustainable use of resources in rural and natural areas. The focus of AR in this contribution is primarily for academic use. Here, we developed a pioneering AR project, at the San Isidro Pass, located in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula, more specifically, in the central-eastern sector of the Cantabrian Mountain range (the Asturian Massif) and the northern slope of the Sierra de Sentiles. This is a high mountain area where the low incidence of Pliocene and Quaternary fluvial erosion has favored the preservation of a great geodiversity. In this case study, the approaches of geology and physical geography as subjects in official university studies have been used as a reference framework. Fieldwork was carried out to design an itinerary, or geotrail, of Points of Interest (POIs), that highlight the geological values of this montane region by visualising and interpreting nine glacial and periglacial landscapes using dynamic graphic resources (animated videos, panoramic and spherical tours and rotating and expandable 3D models combining conventional terrestrial photography and 360° photography, aerial photography, thematic cartography, etc.) composed by graphic processing software. The result is the design of AR tools which could be used by public and private entities as a product suitable for university teaching but also a work that could guide other geoeducational actions or institutional action for official heritage recognition. In isolation, these POIs function as 'geosites'; when combined in sequence (POI 1 to POI 9), these POIs function as a 'geotrail' to highlight the diversity of glacial and periglacial landscapes and their sedimentary deposits; when viewed as an ensemble, POIs combine to be similar to a 'geopark' that emphasises glacial and periglacial landscapes and sedimentary deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are interesting geological elements and structures that could be part of the nation's geological heritage in Maisí municipality; however, these Geosites lack an adequate assessment. This research focuses on diagnosing the state of these Geosites and classifying them in order to establish their heritage value. For this purpose, a methodology that quantitatively and qualitatively categorizes the Geosites from the quality assessment of 10 parameters, to which a weighted score is made to correspond based on 100 points, was adopted. As a result, it was possible to verify that 70% of Geosites are exposed to erosive agents and anthropic action, what is evident they need to be protected. Five Geosites are considered to have heritage value of national or international significance and eleven have regional or local value from 17 Geosites assessed. Among those with the greatest heritage value, three caves (Patana, La Parada and Patato) and two valleys (El Cupey and La Máquina) stand out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Georesources comprise spaces of relevant geological value with the potential to be used and managed as a resource. Therefore, georesources are an essential development factor in the world, mainly oriented to their rational use to improve the quality of life of the surrounding population. This work aims to analyze the main applications, conservation strategies and sustainable use of georesources in the rural area of Manglaralto (Ecuador) through their inventory, assessment and analysis for the adaptation of alternative uses to particular circumstances (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). The method used consists of four phases: (i) inventory and mapping of georesources; (ii) description and assessment of georesources using international methodologies (e.g., GtRAM for georoute assessment, hydrogeological characterization using GeoModeller for groundwater assessment, GIS tools for assessing materials with industrial–artisanal interest, and KFM matrix method for the assessment of the level of construction difficulty of sanitary landfills); (iii) georesources complementary applications and (iv) SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and TOWS matrix preparation (Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses, Strengths), seeking strategies to guarantee the viability of the use of georesources. As a main result of the investigation, the geolocation of the georesources of the area was obtained. In addition, the assessment of the main georesources such as (i) potential geosites and sites of geological interest (e.g., beaches, cliffs, waterfalls, capes), (ii) groundwater (aquifers), and (iii) materials with artisanal and industrial interest (e.g., clays, sands). Finally, the study allowed us to define areas to develop landfill infrastructure, identify ecosystem services, and construct tsunami refuge site proposals. The case study addressed shows that the inventory and definition of the use of geological resources constitute a fundamental process for the economic, social, and environmental development of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Rarh Bengal of India has huge potential for development of geotourism due to its diverse landscape consisting of hills, dome shaped inselberges, tors, dams, badlands, springs, waterfall, ravines etc. The combination of vast dense forest and diverse flora and fauna with various geomorphic features has created a prosperous and complex geodiversity in the Rarh region. However, the potential of geotourism in the region has not yet fully developed. The main objective of this study is to emphasize the potential for geotourism in the Rarh region of West Bengal and to determine the existing status and geotourism prospective of geosites in this region. In this paper, the authors have proposed an inventory of geosites in the Rarh region and analyzed the vast potential of geotourism among them. A comparative analysis of the selected sites has been carried out by applying the Modified Geosite Assessment Model (M-GAM), which has exposed the most suitable geosites for the development of future geotourism. The M-GAM provided the significant assessment of both Main Values and Additional Values of the sites according to the status of each sub-indicator in the valuation model assumed by tourists. The results of this study reveal information about the major aspects of the development of each geosites and identify which sites need more attention and better management in future, so that the region becomes much attractive to larger number of tourists and becomes a well-known geotourism destination.

Located in France on the eastern edge of the Massif Central, the Parc naturel regional des Monts d’Ardèche, inscribed as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2014, presents great geological diversity. This includes a sedimentary boundary between the Jurassic and Cretaceous, represented by limestone and marl. Fossils of crocodilians have been discovered in these layers, highlighting the diversity of past marine environments. Sites of interest and their fossils are today protected and valorized by different public and private actors working in synergy, notably through the UNESCO Global Geopark label.

Sustainable development represents a dynamic process of change which envisages territorial harmony and it enhances both current and future potentials to meet human and environmental needs. The purpose of the analysis is to assess the tourist resources and the related tourism activity in Corbu, a rural commune of Constanta county and part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, as well as to identify some directions for its ecotourism development. The study methodology includes the analysis of statistical data, the assessment of local geosites and a tourist evaluation of the area, based on a perception questionnaire. The main findings highlight the current characteristics of tourist resources, together with the main area problems in relation to their tourism use. The study conclusions and policy recommendations contribute to supporting the sustainable development of a rural area under tourism pressure.

Geoheritage constitutes a natural resource that promotes sustainable rural tourism by creating employment and activities that allow population settlement in unpopulated areas with great natural heritage. The objective of this work is to value the singularity and variety of the geosites, which show a wide geodiversity, with lithological, geomorphological, tectonic and natural process diversity (fluvial, coastal, sedimentary, etc.). In the “Arosa estuary” (Galicia, Spain), seven Geosites have been identified, described and valued, determining their scientific, educational and tourist-recreational potential and obtaining values between 565 and 660 points. The state of conservation and risk of degradation is analyzed in order to proceed with their geoconservation, promoting sustainable geo-tourism. The values of degradation susceptibility range between 0.03 and 3 points, and anthropic degradation between 0.33 and 1.73 points. A 3D virtual itinerary is made using Google Earth, implementing descriptive sheets, interpreted diagrams and photographs, and analysis of the geological processes. An interactive virtual flight is presented for academic and tourist purposes to promote geotourism. The virtual tour also has geomatic didactic elements: geoapp and georeferenced thematic cartographies. These resources are helpful for the unknown geoheritage of the population that lives or visits the “Arosa estuary”, favoring sustainable development and fostering attitudes and skills of respect for nature.

This review attempts to summarize contributions by authors who, in the last decade, have dedicated their efforts to making geoheritage accessible to the public. Geoheritage is composed of geosites, which are, nowadays, real milestones on which field-based geological education can be conducted. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in particular has made it clear that a new paradigm is needed; a series of tools must be introduced and increasingly used to make it possible for potential users, be they academics, students, or the lay public, to experience geosites from locations that can be thousands of kilometers away. All these have been achieved over time by a wide range of evolving techniques and advanced technologies such as GIS tools, virtual reality applications and further innovative technologies such as WebGIS platforms accompanied by appropriate navigation tools (VR headsets and thumbsticks). The viewers, in this way, are provided with a complete view of a virtual geosite, which enables visualizing its characteristics at different scales. VR technologies, especially, have revealed a high degree of satisfaction, based on feedback collected from VR geosite visualization events, both by scientists, students and the general public, and could be the forefront of geosite visualization and valorization in the near future.

Sustainable development represents a dynamic process of change which envisages territorial harmony and it enhances both current and future potentials to meet human and environmental needs. The purpose of the analysis is to assess the tourist resources and the related tourism activity in Corbu, a rural commune of Constanta county and part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, as well as to identify some directions for its ecotourism development. The study methodology includes the analysis of statistical data, the assessment of local geosites and a tourist evaluation of the area, based on a perception questionnaire. The main findings highlight the current characteristics of tourist resources, together with the main area problems in relation to their tourism use. The study conclusions and policy recommendations contribute to supporting the sustainable development of a rural area under tourism pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional documentation of natural and cultural geosites is gaining increasing attention as an indicative tool for environmental change. However, the entities therein pose a challenge to current extraction schemes due to their varying dimensions, complex shape, and most importantly, their seamless embedding in the surrounding topography. It is common to approach the extraction of these entities by developing landform-specific methods which are applied in a localized manner. Nonetheless, these methods hardly generalize, and different entities are dealt with independently, even when located at the same site. We propose in this paper a general, content-driven framework for the detection of smoothly embedded entities that, unlike prevalent approaches, seeks no specific form. We focus on salient entities, which attract visual attention within the point cloud and develop a new detection scheme, driven by homogeneity in the entities' saliency. We show how such formulation requires no approximate location or starting points and does not suffer from weak responses. Therefore, our framework can be readily applied to a multitude entities in various scenes, regardless of type or acquisition technique. We demonstrate our solution on airborne and terrestrial laser scans and detect entities of different types and shapes that feature in both natural and culturally-important sites. As we show, the proposed framework yields improved results compared to state-of-the-art counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of geoeducation generates a link between people, landscapes, and their culture by recognising the geological potential around geosites and their conservation. Geosites have important scientific value and constitute a way of generating learning tools for the development of geoeducation. The city of Guayaquil, the main port of Ecuador, has a valuable geological and mining heritage, which has been affected by population growth and its invasion of protected areas, causing the displacement of animal species to the point of possible extinction. The research aims to assess geosites in the surroundings of the Gustavo Galindo campus, using the Spanish Inventory of Sites of Geological Interest (IELIG, Spanish acronym) methodology to promote geo-education in the context of sustainability. The methodological process includes (i) the inventory and initial selection of Sites of Geological Interest (SGI) based on interviews with experts and the analysis of primary data from potential sites; (ii) characterisation and semi-quantitative geosites assessment using the IELIG methodology; and (iii) qualitative assessment through SWOT analysis to formulate geotourism and geoeducation development strategies. This research emphasises the importance of promoting geological heritage in an urban area. It shows geotourism attractions represented by five SGI grouped into two types: geomorphological and petrological. In general, the SGI are in the "High" category of the degree of geological interest, ranging from 170 to 236.67. In addition, the study identified the lack of a geological culture and natural values of the university campus. It allowed the proposal of protection strategies (e.g., a geoconservation plan ensuring that the number of visitors does not exceed the maximum load capacity), geoscientific dissemination (e.g., creating games, museums, itineraries, launching geoeducational souvenirs, or developing educational content using augmented reality) and a detailed research based on evaluating sites for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maros and Pangkep are two administrative regencies located on the southern arm of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. The area is composed of three main geological frameworks and landscapes, namely, mélange, karst, and reef islands. Geographically, the area is 4° south of the latitude of the center of Indonesia. The purpose of this study is to promote geological uniqueness and to quantify geoheritage and geodiversity sites that will support the geoconservation of the Maros-Pangkep territory. We used an inventory and quantitative assessment of geosites and geodiversity sites as proposed by Brilha. This method used four sets of criteria for the quantification and analysis of scientific value, potential education use, potential tourist use, and degradation risk. The quantification results of twenty-one sites suggested that nine geosites have geoscientific significance. Those sites preserved four geological domains, i.e., a tectonic-structural domain, which consists of folded Cretaceous chert, a low-ultra high-pressure metamorphic assemblage, and oceanic rocks; a geomorphological domain, which consists of three caves with different characteristics and speleothems in a karst landform; a sedimentological domain, which consists of two reef islands as representative modern carbonates with coastal geodynamics; and a stratigraphic domain, which consists of an igneous intrusion and other volcanic associations. The assessment results generated nine international scientific values, eleven high educational potentials, nine high tourism potentials, and nine moderate degradation risks for the 21 promoted geosites. These results serve as a baseline for the management plans and geoconservation strategies and encourage the socioeconomic improvement of the people living around the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Regional Administration of Sicily recently erected Isola delle Femmine—a small island of the Tyrrhenian Sea, close to Palermo—as a geosite. A detailed geological survey has been carried out in order to define the most important geological features of the island together with the development of a new geological map based on topographic data and a digital model at 1:2.000 scale specially processed. Finally, a geological pathway through the island has been traced and illustrated. The geological substrate of Isola delle Femmine consists of a Mesozoic carbonate succession belonging to the Panormide Carbonate Platform. Two lithostratigraphic units have been differentiated. The lowest one consists of dolomitic limestones cropping out in the intermediate and northern part of the island. Despite the absence of biostratigraphic constrains, analogies with comparable deposits from the Palermo Mountains suggested to ascribe this unit to the Upper Triassic. The overlying unit consists of well-bedded rudist and stromatolitic limestones organized in peritidal cycles. The macro- and micro-facies analysis of these Cretaceous limestones allows to attribute this unit to the Lower Cretaceous (i.e., Aptian). Patches of upper Pleistocene skeletal calcarenites rich in benthic foraminifers and calcareous algae overlap the Mesozoic units. Spectacular speleothems such as stalagmites, ray crystals (“raggioni”) of calcite, and mammillary calcite suggest a relative long-lasting exposure of the Mesozoic carbonate substrate to groundwater. This is not surprising since glacio-eustatic oscillations caused sea-level to fall up to 125 m during the Pleistocene thus exposing and linking to the mainland (Sicily) Isola delle Femmine and the surrounding area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fezouata shale is recently discovered, which plays a role in the review of ancient major geological events (biodiversification and extinction). The discovery of this biota has been the subject of a great deal of research. Few studies worldwide dealt with bibliometric analysis in the geological field. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the international publications retrieved from the prestigious databases from 1984 to 2020 using bibliometric analysis. Connected-papers-tool, the tagcrowd web application, gephi, and vosviewer were the used software to analyse and visualise abstracts, authors, countries, years, journals, material, and geological settings. The results indicated that from a number of 2000, 87 papers were retrieved and analysed. The findings showed a positive trend of papers over the studied period. France, the palaeo journal, 2016, and the author lefebvre are the most influential in this field. Trilobite, molluscs, and echinoderms are the most studied taxa in this examined period. The localities, formations, and ages of high importance are the fezouata shale, the upper fezouata formation, the lower ordovician, sandstone, siltstone, the tremadocian, late floian, tachilla formation, and gondouana while the works the most cited in this section are those of destombes, van roy, martin, and vaucher. The outputs of this study provide relevant information on the progress and development of palaeontology in the ordovician-cambrian ages. It may help understand the structure and diffusion of research and knowledge in the field, which can highlight the importance of the geoheritage and guide researchers and interested tourists in the palaeontological domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complex approach to geodiversity and landscape in order to foster geoconservation and develop geotourism and geoeducation is usually more effective than isolated protection and promotion of geoheritage sites without wider context. A Geodiversity Action Plan (GAP) represents a reasonable tool for how to follow these goals in cooperation with local stakeholders. This specific document is not focused only on an inventory of sites of Earth science interest in an area, but encompasses all geodiversity (geological, geomorphological, soil and hydrological features, processes, systems and relationships). As geoconservation often goes hand in hand with education, sustainable tourism and promotion, the GAP includes practical proposals for management and rational use of the area's geodiversity and geoheritage. This complex approach is needed as it provides a complement to the site-oriented protection or management and, moreover, it can be perceived as coherent with a geoethical approach. The paper presents a case study from Moravian-Slovak border (a central part of Bílé Karpaty/Biele Karpaty Mountains) where the proposal for GAP (including inventory, assessment and management measures) was elaborated together with local authorities, schools and other stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the fields of geology, economics, history, cultural studies, and ecology, tourism can be the basis for proper planning, for sustainable tourism management, and for economic development. The Dasht-e Lut is one of the most significant desert areas in Iran due to its exemplary desert patterns and world-famous landscapes, such as the kaluts and nebkhas landforms. Furthermore, it is the hottest spot in the world and can attract adventurous tourists, amongst others, from around the globe. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the most suitable geomorphosites for better sustainable tourism planning using three methods of evaluating geotourism as proposed by Pereira et al., Pralong, and Reynard et al. The results show that the geomorphosites of kaluts, nebkhas, and Gandom Beryan had the greatest potential for different reasons. In addition to geosites and geomorphosites, the night sky was also demonstrated to have a high potential to attract tourists. Using the economic criteria of the Reynard method, all geomorphosites had similar scores. The familiarity of officials and tourism planners with the tourist capabilities of this region can lead to economic and cultural capacity building for the Indigenous people and the tourism industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several factors and processes, both natural and anthropogenic, can threaten the integrity of any geosite, leading to their degradation. For this reason, geoheritage degradation risks should be considered a fundamental step in any geoconservation strategy, all the more when the aim is to tackle the effects of climate change. The present work proposes a quantitative methodology for the degradation risk assessment of geosites by considering the extrinsic factors that can damage the geoheritage. The methodology has been tested on the Maltese Islands, where considerable previous research has been undertaken in order to highlight the international significance of the Maltese landscapes. Three criteria to assess the degradation risk are proposed: natural vulnerability, anthropogenic vulnerability and public use. For each criterion, several parameters have been identified in order to propose a detailed numerical evaluation. The results show that the degradation risk of geosites is mainly related to negligence and lack of knowledge of its inherent geological heritage, and which leads to public misuse and mismanagement of the geosites. The results give an overview of the condition of the geosites and provide information for the design and management of suitable protection measures, especially in the light of future threats related to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formulation of the problem. The aim of work is to prove the expedience of using the beautiful localities with valuable geosites of the Kharkiv region as geotourism objects. Presentation of the main material. The most interesting objects of geotourism in the Kharkiv region are Izyum district, Gorodishhenska and Kozacha mountains, locality Kruchi in Zmijov district, Bajdaki cretaceous rock near Protopopivka village in Balakliya district, cretaceous mountains in Oskil and the Volcha river valleys in Dvorichna and Volchansk districts, locality Krutyj Log near Ruski Tyshki village in Kharkiv district. The objects of Izyum district are described in details. They are located in the south-east of the Kharkiv region near Izyum town, at the distance of 130 km from Kharkiv. Apart from picturesque landscapes, there are 3 remarkable geosites in this locality: Kremenec mountain, Protopivska ravine and lower part of the Grekivka river valley, which is also called the Big Kamenka outcrops. Kremenec mountain is situated on the territory of the Izyum town. The outcrops are located on the crest and western slope of this upland and are composed of Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits. The Big Kamenka outcrops and Protopivska ravine are located on the territory of the Kamenka village. The Big Kamenka outcrops are composed of Jurassic gritstones, sandstones, aleurolites, clay deposits and limestones. The Protopivska ravine is located in the core of Kamenka anticline and is composed of Triassic deposits. In the Izyum district different types of valuable geological objects have been discovered, namely: paleontological – Triassic flora, Jurassic fauna; stratigraphical – the stratotypes of regional suites of Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous sediments – Protopivska, Izyumska, Kremenecka, Priizyumska suites; mineralogical – quartz, chalcedony, calcite, limonite; petrographical – non-ordinary rocks as coral limestones etc.; tectonic – are visible folds and faults – for example, Kamenska anticline; paleogeographical – consists of geological evidences of different conditions of sedimentation – for example, the Oxfordian bioherms, Kimmeridgian lagoonal deposits; geomorphological – remarkable forms of surface, such as limestone rocky outcrops of Iziumska Suites; hydrogeological – the Jurassic springs (Big Kamenka outcrops); raw materials – Turonian chalk, phosphorite concretions in the Cenomanian sediments, which have practical value; mining history – remainders of chalk quarry on the summit of the Kremenec hill; memorial – prominent geologists' work-places and spots of findings of valuable geological materials, such as Cenomanian plesiosaur Cimoliosaurus bernardi Owen in Kremenec and others. Conclusion. The Izyum area contains numerous remarkable geological objects, beautiful landscapes and can be successfully used for geotourism.

The surrounding area of the Bine El Ouidane dam in Central Morocco, has significant potential for the development of geotourism due to its historic, geological, biological, and cultural heritage. However, these valuable resources, constituting a real opportunity for sustainable development of the local economy, remain ignored and underexploited by decision-makers. This work aimed to overcome this gap by identifying and selecting remarkable geosites in the area of the Bine El Ouidane lake, and then by proposing itineraries that help promoting this mountainous area. Two geoitineraries were developed based on the accessibility, touristic attraction and trekking opportunities. Eight highly attractive sites were highlighted according to their geological characteristics, scientific and contextual interests, and relevance. All these geosites present scientific interesting topics regarding sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleontology, magmatism, structural geology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, and karstification, belonging to the central High Atlas post-Variscan sedimentary and structural evolution. These sites can constitute a tool for the development generating work for the inhabitants to ensure their sedentarization.

Accessibility is an important property of geoheritage sites (geosites), which is commonly considered in their assessment. A new method, which refers partly to previous developments, is proposed to assess this property semiquantitatively. Inner (on-site) and outer accessibility are distinguished, and each is measured depending on the opportunities to reach unique geological features. Distant visibility and entrance fees/required permissions are also taken into account. On the basis of the scores, three grades of geosite accessibility (excellent, moderate, and low) are delineated. The proposed method is applied to 15 geosites of Mountainous Adygeya (southwestern Russia), and the outcomes prove its efficacy. This application also helps to establish within-site and territorial spatial heterogeneity of geosite accessibility and to propose some managerial implications.

Orania, located in northwestern Algeria, is characterized by a diversified and fascinate geology. Ten geosites, namely Nedroma granite, Souk el Khemis Messinian Reef, Tadmaya Plateau Basalt Columns, Sassel Beach Messinian Stromatolites, Tafraoui Canyon, Ouillis Quarry, Cedar Forest Numidian Flysch, Ain Ouarka Diapir, Ain Ouarka mid-Jurassic Reefs and Tiout Sandstones Rock Art, have been selected based to their scientific and additional values. These geosites have a relatively high scientific, geoeducational and pedagogical values, due to their uniqueness, rarity, representativeness of geological elements, exceptionality, scientific knowledge and geodiversity. Regarding geotouristic values, they have high aesthetic and moderate cultural values. This inventory shows the scientific importance of the area, which may be frequented by both native and foreign visitors, including undergraduate and graduate geology students. Some geosites are affected by a degradation risk and they are damaged by human activities. The main threat of this anthropogenic pressure is from vandalism, lack of care by local community and visitors, mineral extraction, urbanization and conflagrations. Finally, Management procedures, establishment of geoparks and organization of conferences and meetings must be planned and implemented in order to increase the sustainable use and geoconservation of the analyzed sites, which have all the potential to be recognized as a geoheritage sites and deserve to be declared as a National Geological Monuments.

The purpose of this research was to compare the geotouristic potential of the Sub-Tatra Region, expressed in the values of expert assessment of geosites, against the preferences of tourists coming to the area. Tourist preferences were evaluated by a survey in which tourists assessed the attractiveness of the types of geosites that can be admired in the area. The expert valorizations showed high and very high indices for most of the analyzed geosites. The highest of these assessment values show particularly high geotourism values for three geosites: the travertine hill with Spiš castle, the limestone hill with Orava castle and the travertine dome in Gánovce. A comparison of these results against average tourist preferences shows a moderate correlation (r = 0.4). Geosites of low and medium value according to expert assessments are rarely selected as the destination for equipment-intensive tourism. The sites with the highest combined valorization coefficients, i.e., hills with castle ruins, are of moderate interest to the surveyed group of respondents. The largest difference is in the assessment of the cave, waterfall and viewpoint geosites, where there is a great interest among tourist respondents, but the expert assessment index is low or moderate.

This work is aimed at reviewing the current state of the art in geosite selection, assessment, and communication. We first highlight the main papers that have defined paramount concepts such as geodiversity, geoheritage, and geosites. We then delve into the theoretical principles and guidelines that have been proposed over the last twenty years by researchers who have thoroughly illustrated how to individuate and assess geosites. In doing so, we illustrate notable field examples of applications of qualitative and quantitative assessments of geosites in places such as Serbia, India, Iceland, Ecuador, Sardinia (Italy), Egypt, Tasmania (Australia), and Brazil. The third part of this work is dedicated to illustrating a list (by no means exhaustive) of works that have tried to come up with innovative tools, strategies, and solutions to promote and communicate geosites. From our work, it appears that geosites can be extremely effective as fully fledged outreach tools capable of bridging the gap between Earth science and the lay public.

Las Loras UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) is geologically diverse, particularly in relation to water-derived features: springs, karst springs, travertine buildings, waterfalls, caves. In this work, the interactions between geology, geomorphology, structures and hydrogeology are analyzed. As a result of this study, a first conceptual model of the hydrogeological functioning at Las Loras UGGp is presented. The most plausible hypothesis is that the system is formed by two superimposed aquifer systems, separated by an aquitard formed by Lower Cretaceous material. The deep lower aquifer formed by the Jurassic limestones only outcrops on the northern and southern edges of the Geopark and in a small arched band to the south of Aguilar de Campoo. It forms a basement subject to intense deformation. The upper aquifer system, formed by outcropping materials from the Upper Cretaceous, is a free aquifer. It is formed by a multilayered aquifer system that is highly compartmentalized, constituting individual moorland and lora units acting as a separate recharge–discharge system. This model explains the base level of the permanent rivers and the abundant springs, important components of the water cycle and representing a contribution to the rich geological heritage of the location.

The Sudetes mountain range in SW Poland include several areas, where distinctive topography has developed upon layered sedimentary successions of Cretaceous age, with quartz sandstones supporting the most spectacular landforms. They are most diverse in the Stołowe Mountains, which are a good example of a tableland with plateau levels, escarpments and mesas. Extensive ruiniform relief, rock labyrinths and clusters of pedestal rocks are the highlights of the area and the main reason why the area is protected as a national park. Sandstone landform inventories in other parts of the Sudetes include cuesta ridges, crags, block fields and non-karstic caves, most of them not subjected to any legal form of conservation. Threats to the integrity of sandstone geomorphological heritage are mainly related to tourism, which is clearly over-developed in the most popular parts of the Stołowe Mountains National Park. Negative impact of climbing was considerably reduced after this type of outdoor activity was prohibited in most of the Park territory. Proper geo-interpretation of sandstone geomorphology is challenging, given that dense vegetation hampers landform recognition and appreciation, whereas the most important formative processes, such as subterranean erosion, are slow-going, invisible and, hence, difficult to explain in succinct way, as expected from geo-interpretation aimed at casual visitors. Uncontrolled growth of vegetation interferes with the visibility of many sandstone landforms, and it is argued that regular vegetation clearance is a necessary conservation measure at many geosites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an inventory and quantitative assessment of the scientific value (SV) and the degradation risk (DR) of the most important geosites of the Sudetic Foreland Geopark (South-Western Poland). It is an area with an exceedingly interesting and complex geological structure. In the Geopark’s rocks, 600 million years of history have been recorded: from magmatism on the active margin of Gondwana, through the Variscan continental collision, to the Pleistocene glaciation and Holocene geomorphological processes. The unique geodiversity of the Sudetic Foreland Geopark manifests itself not only in the form of numerous old quarries, places of searching for minerals or in natural rock outcrops. It is also evidenced by the centuries-old stonework traditions of this region, the use of natural rocks in architecture, as well as archaeological evidence for the extraction and processing of natural resources already in the Mesolithic. As a result of the assessment, the geosites with the highest scientific value were identified: Goethe Rock, Skalickie Rocks, Targowica basalt quarry, Piława Górna mine, old nickel ore mine in Szklary, gneisses from Gościęcice outcrop, granite quarry in Gościęcice Średnie, the Piekielny Stream gap, Rocks under the Borowa and Włóki migmatite quarry. Geosites within the Ślęża massif have been comprehensively included due to their thematic connection. Apart from the most important geosites, the issue of geodiversity sites and geodiversity elements was also discussed. Based on the analysis, new objects in this area were also proposed to be included in the legal form of inanimate nature protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The municipality of Caçapava do Sul, in southernmost Brazil, is a future candidate for the certification as a UNESCO Global Geopark (the Caçapava Aspiring Geopark). Proving the international, scientific value of geoheritage in any given territory is a fundamental pre-requisite to be fulfilled for this certification. Representativeness, rarity, integrity, geodiversity of elements and processes, limitations for use, relevance as key locality, and available/published scientific knowledge are the criteria usually applied to evaluate the scientific value of geosites. Thus, in the first place, this paper reviews, demonstrates, and discusses the relevance of the most outstanding geological context of the Caçapava territory: the ‘Camaquã basin’ sedimentary, volcanic, and associated sulphide ore deposits, as a unique stratigraphic record on a Brazilian, South American and Gondwanan scale. Moreover, the relevance of three individual geosites (the Guaritas, Serra do Segredo, and Minas do Camaquã geosites) for international science in the fields of Gondwana tectonics, copper mining, and cavernous weathering research is also demonstrated. Besides their geoscience importance, those geosites share cultural, ecological, aesthetic, functional, and educational values. This paper, based on a comprehensive and thorough literature review, is also an attempt to fill the gap between the context-, theme-, age- or unit-based approach of traditional geology and the site-based and territory-based strategies adopted in geoheritage research, geoconservation, and geoparks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minerals extraction processes are the foundation on which industrial societies are sustained. In Bogotá, the park Mochuelo Bajo emerges as an area of clay exploitation for the production of construction materials. This article aims to discover the geo-touristic potential of the area through the Integrated Approach for Assessing the Geotourism method. In addition, the investigation proposes the creation of a possible tourist route and the analysis of opportunities, strengths, weaknesses and threats in the area, in order to implement this proposal and to calculate the cost of the tour. The methodology consisted of a mixed approach with an exploratory scope, using as data sources, interviews, tours of the area, non-participant observation and secondary data, which were collected from the mines as well as from the inhabitants of the study area and in official information sources. The results obtained indicate the mining proposal has a high potential and so, the possible threats and weaknesses could be handled through administrative controls. Additionally, it was possible to locate a route with five areas to be intervened, and where the importance of clay in production processes, the different materials obtained from this, as well as the industrial evolution in the sector is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geotourism is a form of nature-oriented tourism devoted to the knowledge and understanding of landscape forms and geological processes; flora and fauna and cultural, historical and human heritage. The great geological and morphological variability of Avellino Province, also called Irpinia, in southern Italy makes this province of particular interest for geotourists. Irpinia has a unique set of geosites, sites of cultural interest, archaeological sites and natural parks. Additionally, since ancient times, it has been a transit route between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas and, as in all countries of the Mediterranean area, it was dominated by different races, peoples and cultures that contributed to developing its cultural identity and heritage, including its food and wine. Indeed, some Irpinian products were already known and commercialised in Roman times, including wine and olive oil. On this basis, we propose a map showing the characteristics of Avellino Province, including sites of geological, historical-archaeological and cultural value. The map will contribute to a better understanding of this province from a geotourism perspective and might guide tourists through knowledge of Irpinia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of geoconservation concepts and methodologies to the Azores archipelago led to the implementation of the Geopark Azores, recognized as such by the European and Global Geoparks Network. The current work re-evaluates and stresses the scientific and touristic value of the palaeontological sites of Santa Maria Island. Two new geosites (the Ponta do Castelo tempestite deposit and the Pedra-que-pica coquina) are proposed for classification as ‘Regional Natural Monuments’ by the Regional Government of the Azores, due to their international relevance. The tempestite deposit of Ponta do Castelo was overlain by a contemporary coastal lava delta, which enables the inference of the precise water depth of the geosite at the time of deposition, a very rare condition worldwide; and Pedra-que-pica is the most extensive multispecific fossiliferous coquina ever reported in the literature from the shelf of any of the ∼20,000 known volcanic oceanic islands in the world. Relevant geosites reported for this island are increased from 15 to 26. Additional palaeontological heritage contributions to the sustainable tourism of Santa Maria are suggested, with a focus on two recent projects: the ‘Fossil Trail’ and the future ‘PalaeoPark Santa Maria’.

The primary aims of this paper are to document the existing inventory and characterization of geosites in Ecuador, through the review of relevant public documents (articles, reports, etc.), and to demonstrate the potential of the country’s geological heritage. The methodology was based on (i) the compilation of documents about inventory and characterization of sites with geological or mining interest in Ecuador and (ii) the assessment of the above studies according to the description and value of the geosites. A total of 372 geosites (56 in a UNESCO geopark, 47 in aspiring geoparks, 158 in geopark projects, 73 in geological itineraries and 38 in other initiatives) were identified in Ecuador. Two hundred seventy-six geosites (74.19% of those inventoried) were evaluated with international methods, 65.94% of which (182) used the ILIEG method. The 182 sites fall into the high and very high geological interest categories. In general, we found that most of the reviewed studies meet the protocols/guidelines recommended for this type of surveys. However, some limitations were also detected due to non-homogeneous assessment criteria or the lack of detailed quantitative assessment. The study revealed that Ecuador has a sound knowledge base to address the geoconservation challenges that the country will face in coming decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to study the influence of cartographic scale and flight design on data acquisition using unmanned aerial systems (UASs) to create augmented reality 3D geovisualization of geosites. The relationship between geographical and cartographic scales, the spatial resolution of UAS-acquired images, along with their relationship with the produced 3D models of geosites, were investigated. Additionally, the lighting of the produced 3D models was examined as a key visual variable in the 3D space. Furthermore, the adaptation of the 360° panoramas as environmental lighting parameters was considered. The geosite selected as a case study was the gorge of the river Voulgaris in the western part of the island of Lesvos, which is located in the northeastern part of the Aegean Sea in Greece. The methodology applied consisted of four pillars: (i) scale-variant flight planning, (ii) data acquisition, (iii) data processing, (iv) AR, 3D geovisualization. Based on the geographic and cartographic scales, the flight design calculates the most appropriate flight parameters (height, speed, and image overlaps) to achieve the desired spatial resolution (3 cm) capable of illustrating all the scale-variant details of the geosite when mapped in 3D. High-resolution oblique aerial images and 360° panoramic aerial images were acquired using scale-variant flight plans. The data were processed using image processing algorithms to produce 3D models and create mosaic panoramas. The 3D geovisualization of the geosite selected was created using the textured 3D model produced from the aerial images. The panoramic images were converted to high-dynamic-range image (HDRI) panoramas and used as a background to the 3D model. The geovisualization was transferred and displayed in the virtual space where the panoramas were used as a light source, thus enlightening the model. Data acquisition and flight planning were crucial scale-variant steps in the 3D geovisualization. These two processes comprised the most important factors in 3D geovisualization creation embedded in the virtual space as they designated the geometry of the 3D model. The use of panoramas as the illumination parameter of an outdoor 3D scene of a geosite contributed significantly to its photorealistic performance into the 3D augmented reality and virtual space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Danube Wine Region is one of the most important wine regions in Hungary with potential for geological and wine tourism. The research focused on basic issues related to the Monor wine community of the Danube wine region and the Monor cellar village, such as the consumer attitudes of the potential guests of the Monor cellar village and the wine community, the tourist skills and the consumers' knowledge of local products and values. We tried to find answers to our research questions in a complex way with primary questionnaire research and secondary data collection. We found that Monor wine is good, consumer attitudes underpin wine tourism developments. Monor's basic wine tourism skills are good, with valuable elements from a geotourism point of view, but most of the additional tourism services are not available at a satisfactory level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite intensive scientific research on geodiversity and geotourism, the development of a network of geoparks in Poland has been slow. There are only two geoparks here. The reasons include difficulties of an organisational nature. The existing network of spatial forms of nature conservation should be used to streamline the process of establishing geoparks. The areas of the potential geoparks partially overlap with the areas of the landscape parks. The study presents a comprehensive quantitative assessment of abiotic nature sites (abiotic nature reserves, abiotic natural phenomena, documentation sites, geosites) occurring in landscape parks (125 in Poland). Parks with the greatest number of such sites and the highest geoheritage value are indicated (10% of the total number). Within these areas, new geoparks could be established and tourism based on geoheritage resources could be developed. In some cases, landscape parks located within the planned geoparks feature a small number of geoheritage sites, which may indicate the occurrence of deficiencies in the system of spatial forms of abiotic nature conservation in Poland.

The exploitation of geoheritage resources depends on their accessibility. The latter is usually established for geosites, whereas reaching the areas where geosites concentrate also deserves attention. Here, a novel, multi-criteria, score-based approach for assessing the large-scale accessibility of geoheritage-rich areas is proposed. The study takes into account various information about external and internal public transportation, road infrastructure, local services (including accommodation opportunities), and general settings. This approach is applied to the Russian South, where there are three geoheritage-rich areas, namely Lower Don, Abrau, and Mountainous Adygeya. Using new criteria, these areas differ by their large-scale accessibility, which is excellent in Lower Don and moderate in Abrau and Mountainous Adygeya. It is established that the co-occurrence of geoheritage-rich areas and popular tourist destinations does not guarantee excellent accessibility. The findings of the present study seem to be important for the development of optimal geoheritage resources policy, as well as for planning research and educational activities, such as the currently realized geochemical investigations and the regular field educational campaigns in the Russian South.

Irpinia (Province of Avellino, Campania Region) is a historical–geographical region of Southern Italy inhabited in pre-Roman times by the ancient Samnite tribe of the Irpini, from which the name originates. This area is characterized by both low population density and high naturalness; located on the axial sector of the southern Apennine orogenic chain, the area possesses a complex hilly and mountainous orography, with predominantly agricultural and forest land uses. In this geographical context, there are many relevant geological/geomorphological sites, witnessing a wide geodiversity attributable to complex geological evolution and relief morphogenesis. The extensive bio-geodiversity has thus led to widespread geotourism practices. Irpinia is favored for its beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and typical small towns, often enhanced by quality certifications; moreover, geotourism activities are often associated with other forms of sustainable tourism. Starting from this geographical framework, the article analyzes eight attractive geosites that represent the geotouristic value of the entire Irpinia area well. The analysis was conducted using well-known qualitative and quantitative assessment methods. The results obtained, emphasizing the salient aspects of geodiversity, can be used in planning the usability of the sites and, more generally, planning for the Irpinian landscape in a geo-ecotouristic sense.

Accessibility is an important property of geoheritage sites (geosites), which is commonly considered in their assessment. A new method, which refers partly to previous developments, is proposed to assess this property semiquantitatively. Inner (on-site) and outer accessibility are distinguished, and each is measured depending on the opportunities to reach unique geological features. Distant visibility and entrance fees/required permissions are also taken into account. On the basis of the scores, three grades of geosite accessibility (excellent, moderate, and low) are delineated. The proposed method is applied to 15 geosites of Mountainous Adygeya (southwestern Russia), and the outcomes prove its efficacy. This application also helps to establish within-site and territorial spatial heterogeneity of geosite accessibility and to propose some managerial implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]