Page 105 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism
P. 105
82 The Americas
snow or ice. Volcanic landslides are often caused Health hazards facing tourists at volcanic and
by the gravitational collapse of volcanic features geothermal destinations’, Travel Medicine and
on the slopes and near summit areas of volcanoes Infectious Disease, vol 7, pp257–261.
(Behnke et al, 2003). However, it is important to
note that rainfall or earthquakes can also trigger References
landslides. Moreover, volcanic landslides often Baxter, P. J. and Gresham, A. (1997) ‘Deaths and
evolve into mudflows (Hansell et al, 2006). injuries in the eruption of Galeras volcano,
Mudflows, also known as lahars, describe a hot or Colombia, 14 January 1993’, J. Volcanol Geotherm
cold mixture of water and rock fragments flowing Res, vol 77, pp325–338
down the slopes of a volcano that can travel in Baxter, P. J., Baubron, J. C. and Coutinho, R. (1999)
excess of 60km at speeds over 30km per hour ‘Health hazards and disaster potential of ground gas
(Hansell et al, 2006). emissions at Furnas volcano, Sao Miguel, Azores’,
J. Volcanol Geotherm Res, vol 92, pp95–106
Mudflows form in a number of ways such as Baxter, P. J., Tedesco, D., Miele, G., Baubron, J. C. and
the rapid melting of snow and ice by volcanic Cliff, K. (1990) ‘Health hazards of volcanic gases’,
events, rainfall on loose volcanic deposits, and the Lancet, vol 336, p176
breakout of crater lakes (Hansell et al, 2006; Beaubien, S. E., Ciotoli, G. and Lombardi, S. (2003)
Marutani et al, 2007). Physical injuries related to ‘Carbon dioxide and radon gas hazard in the Alban
burial, penetrating wounds and fractures, and eye Hills area (central Italy)’, J. Volcanol Geotherm Res,
lesions are documented results of landslides and vol 123, pp63–80
mudflows (Hansell et al, 2006). Destinations such Behncke, B. (2009) ‘Hazards from pyroclastic density
as the ski hills of Mt Ruapehu in New Zealand and currents at Mt. Etna (Italy)’, J. Volcanol Geotherm
the recreational areas on and around Mt Rainier in Res, vol 180, pp148–160
the United States are thought to pose the greatest Behncke, B., and Neri, M. (2003) ‘The July and August
2001 Eruption of Mt. Etna (Sicily)’. Bull Volcanol,
hazards to tourists (Johnston et al, 2000). vol 65, pp461–476.
Conclusion Behncke, B., Neri, M. and Carniel, R. (1999) ‘An
exceptional case of endogenous lava dome growth
Volcano tourism and tourism to geothermal spawning pyroclastic avalanches: The 1999 Bocca
destinations is becoming increasingly popular in Nuova eruption of Mt. Etna (Italy)’, J. Volcanol
many regions of the world. It is hoped that the Geotherm Res, vol 124, pp115–128
present study has brought attention to the possible Bernstein, R. S., Baxter, P. J. and Buist, A. S. (1986)
health hazards associated with tourism to volcanoes ‘Introduction to the epidemiological aspects of explosive
and geothermal fields. Geotourism and volcano volcanism’, Am J. Public Health, vol 76 (suppl.), pp3–9
tourism dictates that tourists will place themselves Bower, S. M. and Woods, A. W. (1997) ‘Control of
at some degree of risk by visiting volcanoes and magma volatile content and chamber depth on the
mass erupted during explosive volcanic eruptions’,
geothermal areas. While it is recognized that the J. Geophysical Res, vol 102, pp10273–10290
dynamics of these locations are not necessarily Buckley, R. (2003) ‘Environmental inputs and outputs
seasonal or periodic, if geotourism is to be an in ecotourism: Geotourism with a positive triple
important source of income tourists must be made bottom line?’, J. Ecotourism, vol 2, pp76–82
fully aware of the potential health hazards facing Cantrell, L. and Young, M. (2009) ‘Fatal fall into a volcanic
them. It is strongly recommended that future fumarole’, Wilderness Environ Med, vol 20, pp77–79
research efforts strive to quantify the health risks Casadevall, T. J. (1994) ‘The 1989–1990 eruption of
facing volcano tourists. This will help develop Redoubt volcano, Alaska: Impacts on aircraft operations’,
evidence-based tourism policy and improve J. Volcanol Geotherm Res, vol 62, pp301–316
emergency medical planning. Chirico, G. D., Favalli, M., Papale, P., Boschi, E.,
Pareschi, M. T. and Mamou-Mani, A. (2009) ‘Lava
Note flow hazards at Nyiragongo volcano, DRC. 2’, Bull
Volcanol, vol 71, no 4, pp375–387
1 This chapter was modified from Heggie, Clocchiatti, R., Condomines, M., Guenot, N. and
T. W. (2009) ‘Geotourism and volcanoes: Tanguy, J. C. (2004) ‘Magma changes at Mount
Ch05.indd 82 3/28/2010 1:27:28 PM