Geoheritage assessment of northern Tunisia: First proposal of geosites and prospects for geotourism

Abstract

This study assesses the geological heritage of Northern Tunisia to propose conservation mea-sures and promote geotourism. Using the Spanish Inventory of Sites of Geological Interest eval-uation method, four volcanic geosites have been analyzed: La Galite Island, Ras Rajel, Oued Bellif, and Guelb Saad Moun. La Galite Island stands out for its unique volcanic formations and significant scientific interest, while Ras Rajel provides valuable insights into mining pro-cesses and regional geodynamics. Oued Bellif is remarkable for its iron sulfide and lead‑zinc de-posits, which are essential for understanding metallogenic processes. As for Guelb Saad Moun, it is a volcanic site that serves as a key witness to the geodynamic evolution of the Mediterra-nean. The rigorous application of the evaluation method yielded high values, highlighting the significant scientific and educational importance of these geosites, as well as their strong tour-ism potential. This potential is based on outstanding landscape beauty, remarkable aesthetic quality, and easy accessibility by various means, making these sites particularly attractive to geotourists. However, vulnerability levels vary: La Galite Island and Ras Rajel present moderate risks, while Oued Bellif and Guelb Saad Moun require enhanced protection measures. This re-search advocates for a conservation and enhancement strategy tailored to each site, paving the way for the potential creation of a georoute and a future geopark in Northern Tunisia.

Keywords

geoherithage / volcanic geosites / assessment methodology / geotourism

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