Keywords
lithostructural landscapes
geomorphosites
outdoor activities
How to Cite
Abstract
Mountain landscapes are generated by the interplay of endogenous and exogenous processes, whose reciprocal importance changes over times. The Italian relief reflects a high geomorphodiversity and an overview on iconic mountain landscapes, representative of the lithological-structural diversity of the Italian relief, is presented. The study cases, located along Alps and Apennines and in the Sardinia island, are exemplary for the comprehension of the role of the substratum in shaping mountain landscapes and of the deriving risk scenario. Moreover, mountain landscapes are characterized by a high potential for use in terms of: i) ideal open-air natural laboratories for multidisciplinary educational purposes including geological-geomorphological, historical and ecological topics; ii) possibility of specific outdoor activities that take advantage of outdoor sports (e.g., climbing, canyoning, speleology). These feasible and versatile opportunities favour the enhancement of such environments under different perspectives as well as the involvement of local communities and the socio-economic return deriving from mountain geoheritage management.References
Antonioli F., Ferranti L., 1992. Geomorfologia costiera e subacquea e considerazioni paleoclimatiche sul settore compreso tra S. Maria Navarrese e Punta Goloritzé (Golfo di orosei, Sardegna). Giornale di Geologia 54(2): 66–89.
Ballesteros D., Jiménez-Sánchez M., Domínguez-Cuesta M. J., García-Sansegundo J., Meléndez-Asensio M., 2015. Geoheritage and Geodiversity Evaluation of Endokarst Landscapes: The Picos de Europa National Park, North Spain. In: B. Andreo, F. Carrasco, J. J.Durán, P. Jiménez, J. W. La Moreaux, (eds), Hydrogeological and environmental investigations in karst systems, 619–627, Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Beniston M., 2003. Climatic change in mountain regions: a review of possible impacts. Climatic Change 59(1): 5–31.
Bertacchini M., Coratza P., Piacente S., 2002. Paesaggi Culturali – Geologia e Letteratura nel Novecento in Emilia Romagna, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia – Regione Emilia-Romagna, Ed. L’inchiostro blu, Bologna.
Bigi G., Castellarin A., Coli M., Dal Piaz G.V., Sartori R., Scan-done P, Vai G.B., 1990. Structural Model of Italy, sheet1. C.N.R., Progetto Finalizzato Geodinamica, SELCA Firenze, 1 map, 1:500.000.
Bini A., Meneghel M., Sauro U., 1998. Karst geomorphology of the Altopiani Ampezzani. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, Suppl. Bd 109: 1–21.
Bollati I., Crosa Lenz B., Zanoletti E., Pelfini M., 2017b. Geomorphological mapping for the valorization of the alpine environment. A methodological proposal tested in the Loana Valley (Sesia Val Grande Geopark, Western Italian Alps). Journal of Mountain Science 14(6): 1023–1038.
Bollati I., Della Seta M., Pelfini M., Del Monte M., Fredi P., Palmieri E. L., 2012. Dendrochronological and geomorphological investigations to assess water erosion and mass wasting processes in the Apennines of Southern Tuscany (Italy). Catena 90: 1–17.
Bollati I., Fossati M., Zanoletti E., Zucali M., Magagna A., Pelfini M., 2016b. A methodological proposal for the assessment of cliffs equipped for climbing as a component of geoheritage and tools for Earth Science education: the case of the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (Western Italian Alps). Journal of the Virtual Explorer, Electronic Edition, 49.
Bollati I., Gatti C., Pelfini M.P.; Speciale L., Maffeo L., Pelfini M., 2018. Climbing walls in Earth Sciences education: an interdisciplinary approach for the secondary school (1st level). Rendiconti online della Società Geologica Italiana 44, 134–142.
Bollati I., Leonelli G., Vezzola L., Pelfini M., 2015. The role of Ecological Value in geomorphosite assessment for the Debris Covered Miage Glacier (Western Italian Alps) based in a review of 2.5 centuries of scientific study. Geo-heritage 7(2): 119–135.
Bollati I., Pellegrini M., Reynard E., Pelfini M., 2017a. Water driven processes and landforms evolution rates in mountain geomorphosites: examples from Swiss Alps. Catena 158: 321–339.
Bollati I., Smiraglia C., Pelfini M., 2013. Assessment and selection of geomorphosites and trails in the Miage Glacier Area (Western Italian Alps). Environmental Management 51(4): 951–967.
Bollati I., Vergari F., Del Monte M., Pelfini M., 2016a. Multi-temporal dendrogeomorphological analysis of slope instability in Upper Orcia Valley (Southern Tuscany, Italy). Geografia Fisica e Dinamica Quaternaria 39: 105–120.
Bollati I., Zucali M., Giovenco C., Pelfini M., 2014. Sport climbing sites as a new approach for education in Earth Science: scientific representativeness of Montestrutto area (Austroalpine Domain, Piemonte, Italy). Italian Journal of Geosciences 133(2): 187–199.
Borgatti, L., Tosatti, G., 2010. Slope Instability processes affecting the Pietra di Bismantova geosite (Northern Apen-nines, Italy). Geoheritage 2(3–4): 155–168.
Boriani A., Burlini L., Caironi V., 1988. Geologic map of the granites of the lakes between Valsesia and Lake Maggiore. Scale 1:50,000. Rendiconti della Società Italiana di Mineralogia e Petrologia 43.
Brilha J., 2016. Inventory and quantitative assessment of geosites and geodiversity sites: a review. Geoheritage 8(2): 119–134.
Brilha J., 2018. Geoheritage: Inventories and Evaluation. In: E. Reynard, J. Brilha (eds), Geoheritage: Assessment, Protection, and Management, Elsevier: 69–82.
Bucciante M., 1922. Sulla distribuzione geografica dei calanchi in Italia. L’Universo 38: 585–605.
Cabras S., De Waele J., Sanna L., 2008. Caves and karst aquifer drainage of Supramonte (Sardinia, Italy): a review. Acta Carsologica 37: 227–240.
Carmignani L, oggiano G, Barca S, Conti P, Salvadori I, Eltrudis A, Funedda A, Pasci S., 2001. Geologia della Sardegna. Note illustrative della Carta Geologica della Sardegna a scala 1:200.000. Memorie descrittive della Carta Geologica d’Italia 40: 1–283.
Cavallo A., Dino G.A., 2014. Granites of the Verbano-Cusio-ossola District (Piedmont, Northern Italy): Possible Candidates for the Designation of “Global Heritage Stone Province” and a Proposal of a Geotouristic Route. In: G. Lollino, A. Manconi, F. Guzzetti, M. Culshaw, P. Bobrowsky, F. Luino (eds) Engineering Geology for Society and Territory, Springer, Cham, 5: 267–271.
Citterio M., Turri S., Bini A., Maggi V., 2004. Observed trends in the chemical composition, δ18o and crystal sizes vs. depth in the first ice core from the “LoLc 1650 Abisso sul Margine dell’Alto Bregai” ice cave (Lecco, Italy). Theoretical Applied Karstology 17: 27–44
Conti S., Tosatti G., 1994. Caratteristiche geologico-strutturali della Pietra di Bismantova e fenomeni franosi connessi (Appennino reggiano). Quaderni di Geologia Applicata 1: 25–43.
Coratza P., De Waele J., 2012. Geomorphosites and natural hazards: teaching the importance of geomorphology in society. Geoheritage 4(3): 195–203.
Coratza P., Galve J., Soldati M., Tonelli C., 2012. Recognition and assessment of sinkholes as geosites: lessons from the Island of Gozo (Malta). Quaestiones Geographicae 31(1): 25–35.
Coratza P., Hobléa F., 2018. The specificities of Geomorpho-logical Heritage. In: E. Reynard, J. Brilha, (eds), Geoheritage: Assessment, Protection, and Management, Elsevier: 87–106.
Corsini A., Bonacini F., Deiana M., Giusti R., Russo M., Ronchetti F., Cantini C., Truffelli G., Iasio C., Generali M., Ascari L., Chiesi L, Venturi L., 2016. A wireless crackmeters network for the analysis of rock falls at the Pietra di Bismantova natural heritage site (Northern Apennines, Italy). In: S. Aversa, L. Cascini, L. Picarelli, C. Scavia, Landslides and Engineered Slopes. Experience, Theory and Practice, CRC Press: 685–690.
Corti P., Anghileri, M., 2003. Grignetta. Un secolo di arrampicate. Novantiqua Multimedia ed., Lecco, 112 pp.
Cucchi F., Finocchiaro, F., 2017. Karst landforms in Friuli Venezia Giulia: from Alpine to Coastal Karst. In: M. Soldati, M. Marchetti (eds), Landscapes and Landforms of Italy, Springer, Cham: 147–156.
De Waele J., Di Gregorio F., Piras G., 1998. Geosites inventory in the Palaeozoic karst region of Sulcis-Iglesiente (South-West Sardinia, Italy). Geologica Balcanica 28: 173–179.
De Waele, J., 2010. Teaching resources in speleology and karst: a valuable educational tool. International Journal of Speleology 39(1): 29–33.
De Wever P., Baudin F., Pereira D., Cornée A., Egoroff G., Page K., 2017. The Importance of Geosites and Heritage Stones in Cities – a Review. Geoheritage 9(4): 561–575.
Della Dora V., 2012. Setting and Blurring Boundaries: Pilgrims, Tourists, and Landscape in Mount Athos and Meteora. Annals of Tourism Research 39: 951–974.
Diolaiuti G., Citterio M., Carnielli T., D’Agata C., Kirkbride M., Smiraglia C., 2006. Rates, processes and morphology of freshwater calving at Miage Glacier (Italian Alps). Hydrological Processes 20: 2233–2244.
El Hadi H., Tahiri A., Simancas J. F., González-Lodeiro F., Azor A., Martínez-Poyatos D., 2011. Geoheritage in Morocco: the Neoproterozoic Ophiolite of Bou Azzer (Central Anti-Atlas). Geoheritage 3(2): 89–96.
Espace Mont-Blanc, 2018. L’Espace Mont-Blanc, la coopération unissant la France, l’Italie et la Suisse. Online: www.espace-mont-blanc.com (accessed 1 January 2018).
Garavaglia V., Pelfini M., Bollati, I., 2010. The influence of climate change on glacier geomorphosites: the case of two Italian glaciers (Miage Glacier, Forni Glacier) investigated through dendrochronology. Géomorphologie: relief, processus, environnement 16(2): 153–164.
García-Rodríguez M., Fernández-Escalante E., 2017. Geo-Climbing and environmental education: the value of La Pedriza Granite Massif in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, Spain. Geoheritage 9(2): 141–151.
Gianolla P, Micheletti C, Panizza M., 2009. Nomination of the Dolomites for inscription on the World Natural Heritage List UNESCO. Ed. Provincia di Belluno, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano-Bozen, Provincia di Pordenone, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Provincia di Udine, 4 volumes.
Gray M., 2013. Geodiversity: valuing and conserving abiotic nature (2nd Edition). John Wiley and Sons Ed., Oxford, pp. 508.
GSUE [Gruppo di Studio Università Emiliane per la geomorfologia], 1976. Geomorfologia dell’area circostante la Pietra di Bismantova (Appennino reggiano). Bollettino del Servizio Geologico d’Italia 97: 103–213.
ISPRA [Istituto Superiore per la Ricerca e la Protezione Ambientale], 2018. The Italian Geosites Inventory. online: sgi.isprambiente.it/geositiweb/default.aspx (accessed 1 January 2018).
Joyce E. B., 2010. Australia’s geoheritage: history of study, a new inventory of geosites and applications to geotourism and geoparks. Geoheritage 2(1–2): 39–56.
Lucchi F., Romagnoli C., Tranne C.A., 2017. Volcanic land-forms and landscapes of the Aeolian Islands (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Sicily): implications for hazard evaluation. In: M. Soldati, M. Marchetti (eds), Landscapes and Landforms of Italy, Springer, Cham: 443–453.
Maccherini S., Chiarucci A., De Dominicis V., 1998. Relationships between vegetation and morphology in the Radicofani calanchi (southern Tuscany). Atti del Museo di Storia Naturale della Maremma 17(9): 91–108.
Marchetti M., Ghinoi A., Soldati M., 2017. The Dolomite Landscape of the Alta Badia (Northeastern Alps): A Remarkable Record of Geological and Geomorphological History. In: M. Soldati, M. Marchetti (Eds), Landscapes and Landforms of Italy, Springer, Cham: 123–134.
Matsukura Y., Matsuoka N., 1991. Rates of tafoni weathering on uplifted shore platforms in Nojima-Zaki, Boso Peninsula, Japan. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 16(1): 51–56.
Melelli L., Vergari F., Liucci L., Del Monte M., 2017. Geomorphodiversity index: Quantifying the diversity of land-forms and physical landscape. Science of the Total Environment 584: 701–714.
Melis Rita T., Di Gregorio F., Panizza V., 2017. Granite Landscapes of Sardinia: Long-Term Evolution of Scenic Landforms. In: Landscapes and Landforms of Italy, In: M. Soldati, M. Marchetti (eds), Landscapes and Landforms of Italy, Springer, Cham: 351–363.
Migliazza M., Giani G. P., 2005. Analisi dei fenomeni di crollo nella Pietra di Bismantova (RE). Geoingegneria Ambien-tale e Mineraria 116: 41–50.
Migoń P., 2006. Granite landscapes of the world, Oxford University Press, pp. 416.
Migoń P., Latocha A., 2008. Enhancement of cultural landscape by geomorphology; a study of granite parklands in the west Sudetes, SW Poland. Geografia Fisica e Dinamica Quaternaria 31(2): 195–203.
Migoń P., Pijet-Migoń E., 2017. Viewpoint geosites – values, conservation and management issues. Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association 128(4): 511–522.
Migoń P., Różycka M., Michniewicz A., 2017. Conservation and geotourism perspectives at granite geoheritage sites of Waldviertel, Austria. Geoheritage 1–11.
Motta M., Panizza V., Pecci M., 2009. Geomorphological hazard assessment on natural rock wall for free climbing practice. Memorie descrittive della Carta Geologica d’Italia 87: 109–122.
Ortega-Becerril J. A., Jorge-Coronado A., Garzón G., Wohl, E., 2017. Sobrarbe Geopark: an Example of Highly Diverse Bedrock Rivers. Geoheritage 9(4): 533–548.
Osborne R.A.L., 2000. Geodiversity: Green geology in action – Presidential address for 1999–2000: Proceedings of the Linnaean Society of New South Wales 122: 149–173.
Panizza M., 2009. The geomorphodiversity of the Dolomites (Italy): a key of geoheritage assessment. Geoheritage 1(1): 33–42.
Panizza M., Piacente S., 2003. Geomorfologia culturale. Pitagora Ed., pp. 358.
Panizza V., Manca P., 2006. Morfologie di erosione fluviale e fruizione turistica. Un esempio nella Sardegna centro orientale. Rivista Geografica Italiana 113: 527–547.
Panizza V., Mennella M., 2007. Assessing geomorphosites used for rock climbing: the example of Monteleone Rocca Doria (Sardinia, Italy). Geographica Helvetica 62(3): 181–191.
Panizza, M., Piacente, S., 2017. Geomorphodiversity in Italy: Examples from the Dolomites, Northern Apennines and Vesuvius. In: M. Soldati, M. Marchetti (eds), Landscapes and Landforms of Italy, Springer, Cham: 501–509.
Pelfini M., Bollati I., 2014. Landforms and geomorphosites ongoing changes: concepts and implications for geoheritage promotion. Quaestiones Geographicae 33 (1): 131–143.
Pelfini M., Bollati I., Pellegrini L., Zucali M., 2016. Earth Sciences on the field: educational applications for the comprehension of landscape evolution. Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana 40: 56–66.
Pelfini M., Diolaiuti G., Leonelli G., Bozzoni M., Bressan N., Brioschi D., Riccardi A., 2012. The influence of glacier surface processes on the short-term evolution of supraglacial tree vegetation: the case study of the Miage glacier, Italian Alps. The Holocene 22: 847–856.
Pellegrini L., Vercesi, P. L., 2017. Landscapes and Landforms Driven by Geological Structures in the Northwestern Apennines. In: M. Soldati, M. Marchetti (eds), Landscapes and Landforms of Italy, Springer, Cham: 203–213.
Pettebone D., Meldrum B., Leslie C., Lawson S., Newman P., Reigner N., Gibson, A., 2013. A visitor use monitoring approach on the half dome cables to reduce crowding and inform park planning decisions in Yosemite National Park. Landscape and Urban Planning 118: 1–9.
Région Autonome Vallée d’Aoste, 2018. Elenco dei siti. Online: www.regione.vda.it/risorsenaturali/conservazione/natura2000/siti_f.asp (accessed 1 January 2018).
Reynard E., Coratza P., 2016. The importance of mountain geomorphosites for environmental education: examples from the Italian Dolomites and the Swiss Alps. Acta geographica Slovenica 56(2): 246–257.
Reynard E., Panizza M., 2005. Geomorphosites: definition, assessment and mapping. An introduction. Géomorphologie 3: 177–180
Roberts B. A., Proctor J., 2012. The ecology of areas with serpentinized rocks: a world view (Vol. 17). Springer Science, Business Media.
Rossi P., Oggiano G., Cocherie A., 2009. A restored section of the “southern Variscan realm” across the Corsica-Sardinia microcontinent. Comptes Rendus Geoscience 341: 224–238.
Rushforth J., 2014. The Dolomites: Rock Climbs and Via Ferrata, ROCKFAX: pp. 66.
Santilli M., Pelfini M., Citterio M., Turri S., 2005. Landscape history in the subalpine karst region of Moncodeno (Lombardy Prealps, Northern Italy). Dendrochronologia 23: 19–27.
Schut P.O., 2006. Speleology and caving. From a science to an outdoor activity (1930–1945). StapsVolume 74(4): 99–115.
Soldati M., 2010. Dolomites: the spectacular landscape of the “Pale mountains”. In: P. Migoń (ed.), Geomorphological landscapes of the world, Springer, Heidelberg: 191–199.
Soldati M., Marchetti M., (eds), 2017. Geomorphological landscapes of Italy, Springer: pp. 539.
Sturani M., Parravicini P., Pelfini M., 2018. Pre Service Teachers attitudes in planning and scheduling geofield trip at secondary level: a case study. Rendiconti Online Società Geologica Italiana 45: 77–82.
Various Authors, 2008. I geositi dell’Insubria. Comunità Montana Valsassina Valvarrone Val d’Esino Riviera Ed. Vercesi G.V., 2005. Plant ecology of ultramafic outcrops in the Northern Apennines (Piacenza Province, Italy). In: R.S. Boyd, A.J.M. Baker, J. Proctor (eds) Ultramafic rocks: their soils, vegetation and fauna, Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Serpentine Ecology, St. Albans, Herts, UK, Science Reviews 2000 Ltd, 157–160.
Yang G., Chen Z., Tian M., Wu F., Wray R. A., Ping Y., 2011. On the growth of national geoparks in China: distribution, interpretation, and regional comparison. Episodes 34 (3): 157–176.
Zgłobicki W., Poesen J., Cohen M., Del Monte M., García-Ruiz J. M., Ionita I., Niacsu L., Machová Z., Martín-Duque J. F., Nadal-Romero E., Pica A., Rey F., Solé-Benet A., Stankoviansky M., Stolz C., Torri D., Soms J., Vergari F., 2017. The potential of permanent gullies in Europe as geomorphosites. Geoheritage 1–23.