Abstract
Five areas in Central Europe, each hosting abundant geological evidence of Carboniferous to Permian volcanic activity, are analysed in terms of their volcanism-related geoheritage and opportunities to develop geotourist product. One area is located in the eastern part of Germany (Geopark Porphyrland), two in northern Czechia (Bohemian Paradise, Broumovsko) and two in south-west Poland (Wałbrzych region, Land of Extinct Volcanoes). Four main geoheritage themes are identified: geology and palaeovolcanology, mineralogy, geomorphology, and heritage stone resources. Each of the regions considered in the paper may be characterized by its core geoheritage theme and secondary themes, less evidently exposed. These themes are optimal foundations to develop geo-interpretation and geotourism. Challenges include difficulties in relating rock record to long eroded volcanic landforms, provision of adequate solutions for mineral collectors and proper conservation of quarries which offer best insights into the history of volcanic processes from c 300 Ma ago.
Highlights
Volcanism is among the most popular subjects in geotourism and geoeducation, exploited in numerous regions and localities worldwide
Yandangshan UNESCO Global Geopark in Zhejiang, China, reveals the history of silicic volcanism in the Cretaceous that produced a large caldera and left a rock record exposed in magnificent scenery of high rhyolite lava and
Given the considerable interest in contemporary volcanism within geotourism and frequent use of the legacy of late Cenozoic volcanism to develop geo-interpretation and to build tourist product, it is rather surprising that geoheritage aspects of Late Palaeozoic volcanic activity are largely neglected
Summary
Volcanism is among the most popular subjects in geotourism and geoeducation, exploited in numerous regions and localities worldwide (see recent overviews by Erfurt-Cooper and Cooper 2010, Erfurt-Cooper 2014). The importance of volcanic phenomena in the global geoconservation context is exemplified by their prominent presence on the World Heritage List of UNESCO (Wood 2009; Casadevall et al 2019), within the Global Geoparks Network (Liu et al 2012; Brilha 2018) and among national inventories of sites of special geoscience interest The prime example of this is Giant’s Causeway site in Northern Ireland, a UNESCO World Heritage property since 1986, distinguished by its perfectly regular columnar jointing exposed within shore platforms and steep cliffs (Crawford 2016). Ancient volcanic heritage as a resource for geo-activities is explored at national or regional level, as just one more component of geological record, but remains rather poorly known internationally. Yandangshan UNESCO Global Geopark in Zhejiang, China, reveals the history of silicic volcanism in the Cretaceous that produced a large caldera and left a rock record exposed in magnificent scenery of high rhyolite lava and
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