The National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano was listed in the European Geoparks Networkin 2010. This territory extends over 1800 square kilometres in southern Italy. It includes several mountain ranges, whose peaks reach altitudes above 1900 m, hillside and ridges, interrupted by valleys, often deeply incised. These valleys, where flows the Alento, Mingardo, Lambro and Bussento rivers, sometimes become wider to the coast, creating small alluvial plains. In correspondence of these flat areas, sandy or pebbly beaches are formed, otherwise the coast is dominated by high and rocky cliffs. This articulated morphology is due to the geological nature of the rocks that make up the area, as well as to the geological history, rather complicated, which has suffered this area. Some relieves consist of Mesozoic limestones and dolomites, extremely widespread in the southern Appenines. They have been shaped by karst morphogenesis, with the formation of surface form (dolines and polje) and underground ones (caves). The tectonic is evident along the slopes of the relieves or in the deep gorges and canyons which dissect them. Other relieves are made up of sandstones and conglomerates of the Middle-Upper Miocene, in the upper portion, and of clay and calcarenites with marls of the Paleocene, in the lower ones. These outcrops are exclusive in the southern Apennines. The slopes of these relieves have been shaped by water runoff and gravitational movements. Along the coast, changes in sea level, that succeeded in the Quaternary, are recorded by many significant traces, such as marine terraces, notches and caves, sometimes with associated sediments and fossils.These geological characters can be represented by a large number of emergencies, with different degrees of importance and interest (stratigraphy, geomorphology, hydrogeology, etc.). Their scientific value can be assigned according to research carried out on them that they have also allowed relevant scientific publications. As regard the educational value is related to their representation in the territory, and therefore their inclusion in some learning and /or tourist paths. In addition, these emergencies can be integrated with a wide variety of ecosystems, already include in the UNESCO program "Man and Biosphere" as well as archaeological sites, unique and exceptional, Paestum, Velia and Padula, recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO. However, in this territory, where the physical landscape is an attractive scenario, we can not overlook the areas in their natural state with endemic vegetation and fauna of great ecological value, or the castles, churches and places of worship, indicative of a long history and a unique tradition, expressed in various ways and attractions. The geodiversity in the Geopark, supported by a cutting-edge scientific research, can contribute to the search of new paths in education and development of sustainable tourism activities.
The geodiversity in the Cilento and Vallo di Diano Geopark (Italy) as support in the enhancement of sustainable development
Valente A;
2012-01-01
Abstract
The National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano was listed in the European Geoparks Networkin 2010. This territory extends over 1800 square kilometres in southern Italy. It includes several mountain ranges, whose peaks reach altitudes above 1900 m, hillside and ridges, interrupted by valleys, often deeply incised. These valleys, where flows the Alento, Mingardo, Lambro and Bussento rivers, sometimes become wider to the coast, creating small alluvial plains. In correspondence of these flat areas, sandy or pebbly beaches are formed, otherwise the coast is dominated by high and rocky cliffs. This articulated morphology is due to the geological nature of the rocks that make up the area, as well as to the geological history, rather complicated, which has suffered this area. Some relieves consist of Mesozoic limestones and dolomites, extremely widespread in the southern Appenines. They have been shaped by karst morphogenesis, with the formation of surface form (dolines and polje) and underground ones (caves). The tectonic is evident along the slopes of the relieves or in the deep gorges and canyons which dissect them. Other relieves are made up of sandstones and conglomerates of the Middle-Upper Miocene, in the upper portion, and of clay and calcarenites with marls of the Paleocene, in the lower ones. These outcrops are exclusive in the southern Apennines. The slopes of these relieves have been shaped by water runoff and gravitational movements. Along the coast, changes in sea level, that succeeded in the Quaternary, are recorded by many significant traces, such as marine terraces, notches and caves, sometimes with associated sediments and fossils.These geological characters can be represented by a large number of emergencies, with different degrees of importance and interest (stratigraphy, geomorphology, hydrogeology, etc.). Their scientific value can be assigned according to research carried out on them that they have also allowed relevant scientific publications. As regard the educational value is related to their representation in the territory, and therefore their inclusion in some learning and /or tourist paths. In addition, these emergencies can be integrated with a wide variety of ecosystems, already include in the UNESCO program "Man and Biosphere" as well as archaeological sites, unique and exceptional, Paestum, Velia and Padula, recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO. However, in this territory, where the physical landscape is an attractive scenario, we can not overlook the areas in their natural state with endemic vegetation and fauna of great ecological value, or the castles, churches and places of worship, indicative of a long history and a unique tradition, expressed in various ways and attractions. The geodiversity in the Geopark, supported by a cutting-edge scientific research, can contribute to the search of new paths in education and development of sustainable tourism activities.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
