The Khadzhokh Canyon System—An Important Geosite of the Western Caucasus

Anna V Mikhailenko,Vladimir A Ermolaev,Dmitry A Ruban

doi:10.3390/geosciences10050181

Abstract

True diversity of geological heritage sites (geosites) is yet to be fully understood. New field studies of the Khadzhokh Canyon and its vicinities in the Western Caucasus (Mountainous Adygeya tourist destination, southwestern Russia) have allowed characterizing its geoheritage. Multiple unique features are assigned to geomorphological, stratigraphical, paleontological, palaeogeographical, sedimentary, tectonic, hydro(geo)logical, and coupled economical and geoexplorationgeoheritage types. This geoheritage is highlycomplex, and its rank is national. The unique features include (but not limited to) three canyons, Triassic stratigraphical sections, Late Jurassic coral reef, megaclast accumulations, chevron folds, and waterfalls. The geoheritage is distributed along the Khadzhokh Canyon and its branches. The configuration of thisgeositemakes it possible to propose a new category, namely dendritic geosites distinguished by continuous occurrence of geoheritage via branching stripes. Such geosites can be either natural (determined by dendritic drainage network and deep valley incision) or anthropogenic (determined by dendritic road network with lengthy road cuttings). In the former case, geosites are also geomorphosites and host viewpoint geosites.

Highlights

International research interest in geological heritage has grown exponentially since the mid-2000s
Geositessensulato include geological heritage sites and geomorphological heritage sites.The basic knowledge of geoheritage, geosites, and geomorphosites is presented in the synthetic works by Brilha [1], Henriques et al [2], Prosser at al. [3], Reynard and Brilha [4], Ruban [5], Štrba [6], and Wimbledon and Smith-Meyer [7]
The unique features are both numerous and diverse, and these can be attributed to several particular geoheritage types

Summary

Introduction

International research interest in geological heritage (geoheritage) has grown exponentially since the mid-2000s. [3], Reynard and Brilha [4], Ruban [5], Štrba [6], and Wimbledon and Smith-Meyer [7]. Geositessensulato (this definition is preferred in the present work) include geological heritage sites (geositessensustricto) and geomorphological heritage sites (geomorphosites).The basic knowledge of geoheritage, geosites, and geomorphosites is presented in the synthetic works by Brilha [1], Henriques et al [2], Prosser at al. These objects represent unique phenomena of geological environment that are valuable as pieces of natural heritage, and these are of scientific, educational, and tourism importance. Geoheritage, geosites, and geomorphosites are essential objects for geotourism development [10,11,12]

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