The Cilento-Vallo di Diano National Park, located in the southern part of the Campania region, preserves a geological heritage characterized by a high degree of diversity: it includes coastal and mountain areas modelled on both mesozoic carbonate successions and terrigenous successions, that give rise to a landscape alternating between steep mountainous districts and hilly areas. The purpose of this work is to present a preliminary identification and inventory of the main geosites of the Cilento-Vallo di Diano National Park. On the basis of literature analysis and the authors’ knowledge, more than one hundred sites were selected and mapped using a geographical information system. Different categories of geosites were distinguished (stratigraphical, palaeoenvironmental, palaeontological, structural, geomorphological, hydrogeological), according to the scheme proposed for the global site inventory of geosites. Geomorphosites are surely widely represented. The hinterland of the park, with its karst features, superimposed gorges, cuesta-like ridges, fault scarps and fault-line scarps offers valuable resources for the teaching of main topics relative to karst and structural geomorphology; especially when we think of the singularity of the selected sites, due to the rarity or scientific interest of the preserved situations. Along the coastal sector the most important geomorphosites are represented by marine quaternary terraces (Camerota, Palinuro, Licosa capes), fossil dunes and coastal caves, many of which also preserve important geoarchaeological records. It is to be hoped that this wide territory will soon become well known and highly appreciated and that this study can be the first stage towards the achievement of such aim.
THE GEOSITES OF THE CILENTO-VALLO DI DIANO NATIONAL PARK (CAMPANIA REGION, SOUTHERN ITALY
GUIDA, Domenico;
2005-01-01
Abstract
The Cilento-Vallo di Diano National Park, located in the southern part of the Campania region, preserves a geological heritage characterized by a high degree of diversity: it includes coastal and mountain areas modelled on both mesozoic carbonate successions and terrigenous successions, that give rise to a landscape alternating between steep mountainous districts and hilly areas. The purpose of this work is to present a preliminary identification and inventory of the main geosites of the Cilento-Vallo di Diano National Park. On the basis of literature analysis and the authors’ knowledge, more than one hundred sites were selected and mapped using a geographical information system. Different categories of geosites were distinguished (stratigraphical, palaeoenvironmental, palaeontological, structural, geomorphological, hydrogeological), according to the scheme proposed for the global site inventory of geosites. Geomorphosites are surely widely represented. The hinterland of the park, with its karst features, superimposed gorges, cuesta-like ridges, fault scarps and fault-line scarps offers valuable resources for the teaching of main topics relative to karst and structural geomorphology; especially when we think of the singularity of the selected sites, due to the rarity or scientific interest of the preserved situations. Along the coastal sector the most important geomorphosites are represented by marine quaternary terraces (Camerota, Palinuro, Licosa capes), fossil dunes and coastal caves, many of which also preserve important geoarchaeological records. It is to be hoped that this wide territory will soon become well known and highly appreciated and that this study can be the first stage towards the achievement of such aim.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
