Abstract
The Kaczawskie Mountains and Foothills – Geopark Land of Extinct Volcanoes is an area with an extremely interesting geological structure and outstanding landscape values. Great geo-diversity makes it possible to prepare a geoeducation offer for practically every recipient – from kids, through adults interested in natural sciences, to natural science students. The characteristics of the Kaczawskie Mountains and Foothills enable one to develop a nationally unique form of geotourism and utilization of local natural resources for various geoeducation programs. Despite the small area of the mentioned region, it is possible to raise topics related to volcanic phenomena, the formation of mountain ranges, climate change and the impact of glaciers on the relief of the terrain. Educational activity at the Geopark Land of Extinct Volcanoes do not need to be limited only to geological issues, but may also include environmental issues, waste management or even historical topics. However, apart from the very existence of geotourism attractions, equally important are their uniform promotion and dissemination of knowledge about them. This can be done by describing the most important geopoints in the field, e.g. through a network of educational boards or by organizing promotional field trips. This would increase the knowledge about the geological richness of the described region among tourists and residents. The work of the Kaczawskie Association, which is trying to include the Land of Extinct Volcanoes Geopark in the UNESCO World Geopark Network, is currently heading in this direction. The implementation of this initiative will not only increase the interest in natural sciences and the region, but will also allow it to keep its authentic and unique character. Unfortunately, the process of application to the UNESCO GGN, both the development of the geoeducation and geotourism in the region of the Kaczawskie Mountains and Foothills, has been slowed down by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
The region of the Kaczawskie Mountains and Foothills is known as Land of Extinct Volcanoes Geopark
The Kaczawskie Mountains and Foothills has an extremely interesting and complicated geological structure and outstanding landscape values. This region is ideal for educational activities dedicated to a wide variety of topics in the field of Earth sciences, especially geography and geology
Like the entire Sudetes, the described area has a complicated, even socalled “mosaic” geological structure (Baranowski et al, 1990; Geoeducation can be defined in at least three different ways (Kubaliková et al, 2016): (1) The National Geographic Society proposes to treat geoeducation as a comprehensive education about the mechanisms of nature and human civilization, on a local, regional and global scale; (2) the second approach is limited to the higher education of students in the field of Geosciences; (3) the most common and intuitive understanding of geoeducation refers to the popularization of Geotourism vol 16, 3‒4 (58‒59) 2019 18 https://journals.agh.edu.pl/geotour knowledge from various Geosciences among students, tourists and members of local communities
Summary
The region of the Kaczawskie Mountains and Foothills is known as Land of Extinct Volcanoes Geopark. This last name is used to promote the unique geological heritage of this part of the Sudetes. The Kaczawskie Mountains and Foothills has an extremely interesting and complicated geological structure and outstanding landscape values This region is ideal for educational activities dedicated to a wide variety of topics in the field of Earth sciences, especially geography and geology. 20–30 million years in age (Birkenmajer et al, 2007) belong to the important geotouristic resources of the Land of Extinct Volcanoes Geopark These rocks belong to the eastern part of the Central European volcanic province. It is worth mentioning the interesting glacial sediments, which were deposited in several places in the described region during the last period of the Pleistocene glaciations
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