Page 285 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

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century onwards and by the close of the century Scotland’s west coast
it was the basis of many guidebook illustrations.
Thus for tourists lacking first-hand experiences of volcanoes
actual landscapes their impressions and expectations The west coast is geologically noteworthy for its
were markedly influenced by artistic and Paleogene (some 24 to 65 million years ago)
photographic visualizations, some of which Igneous Province (see Emeleus and Bell, 2005),
appeared in guidebooks. the principal but not sole focus of the country’s
The curiosity and aesthetic worth that inspired volcanic geotourism. The Province has one
travellers and tourists, before scientific value, as mainland (Ardnamurchan) and five island (Arran,
motivators for travel was partly evoked by such Eigg, Mull, Rum and Skye) volcanic centres.
visualizations. Of course, guidebooks have always Ardnamurchan is one of the real gems of Scotland’s
attempted to satisfy the curious and promote volcanic tourism although it is not fully exploited
newly recognized attractions. Geology’s increasing as such; it was an active volcano some 60 million
popularity, especially amongst the leisured classes years ago. The principal volcanic island centre of
and in schools, in the 19th century encouraged Rum lies about 25 kilometres off Ardnamurchan;
field excursions, and field-guides evolved to it was declared a national nature reserve in 1957
support them; the Scottish geosites identified in for its flora and fauna rather than its geology,
them are the mainstay of present-day geotourism which has been studied for well over a century
provision whose origin lies with the reportage of from the gentlemen geologists of the late 19th
somewhat earlier travellers. A national schools’ century to today’s academic geologists.
geology syllabus had been published by the Both Ardnamurchan and Rum were included
British Association in 1890 but was not in the designation of the Lochaber (European)
implemented. Again, despite geology’s early Geopark in 2007. Scotland’s west coast volcanoes
development in the United Kingdom it was not a were the end result of the pooling of a huge
major subject in its universities until the 1960s; volume of magma below northern Britain around
indeed, in the 1930s there were only some 30 61 million years ago when the north Atlantic
geology undergraduates per year (Hamilton, 1976, Ocean had not opened and western Europe was
p105). However, ‘By 1956 Geology had an attached to Greenland and North America. This
important role in scientific education in schools magma plume eventually split the continental
in Britain. Experiments in integrated sciences, plates prior to their drifting as it enabled molten
field sciences, rural and environmental studies rock to migrate upwards through the crust
developed in the non-examination secondary and, where it was fractured, reach the surface to
schools’ (Hamilton, 1976, p110). form the volcanoes of Ardnamurchan, Arran
From the late 1960s to the late 1980s (Figure 18.4), Mull, Rum and Skye (Figure 18.5).
university geology underwent a major expansion This magmatic activity domed the crust bringing
(Hamilton, 1976); this was probably encouraged up ancient rocks from great depth and producing
by the discipline’s popularization as a result of a series of volcanic cones (with their associated
plate tectonics and its fieldwork requirement lavas and ash deposits to mark their approximate
when environmental education was widely location) and calderas with their associated ring
promoted in schools. Many of the graduates who dykes; subsequent erosion, especially during the
studied geology during the boom years are now last Ice Age has picked out these features in the
in teaching and management positions in a landscape to create dramatic and aesthetically
variety of academic, public sector and commercial attractive scenery.
environmental service sector organizations and All of the volcanoes were involved in major
able to influence opinion at a variety of levels; geological and rather catastrophic events. For
however, these potential geology ambassadors are example, on Rum around 60.5 million years ago the
not being replaced and new means of promoting roof of a large magma chamber collapsed, leaving a
geology need to be explored to continue 12×7km caldera, that released (judging from the
geotourism’s expansion in the future. thick and extensive tuff deposits now found) huge

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