Page 47 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

24 Introduction

layers and tree moulds, lava tubes and lava flows, One of the greatest adventures, however, is viewing
sulphur banks with fumaroles and steam vents, the volcanic landscape of Cappadocia from one of
earthquake and devastation trails, and the Volcano the many hot air balloons which take passengers
Observatory and Thomas A. Jaggar Museum for flights early every morning (Figure 1.7).
(Hazlett and Hyndman, 1996). Safety is a great In Scotland, Arthurs Seat near Edinburgh is a
issue here and sufficient information is available, popular destination for people who want to get out
although some tourists do not heed the warnings of town into a natural environment. Fingal’s Cave is
and end up in trouble when they try to walk on another volcanic landform and one of the attractions
recent lava flows at Kiluaea volcano. visitors to Scotland often include in their field trips
Europe has volcanic areas both dormant and or excursions into geoparks. The dormant volcanoes
active. The dormant regions are used by volcano in France contribute interesting geological features
tourists to gain an insight into the geological with locations in the Central Massif (Graveline and
heritage of former activity including regions in Chabanne, 2002; Chapter 17 this volume), but also
Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, Turkey and down on the Mediterranean coast with the ancient
Spain. In Turkey the region of Cappadocia volcano of Cap d’Agde (Bousquet, 2006).
(Kapadokya) bears witness to immense volcanic Interestingly, before 1750 the volcanoes of the
activity which resulted in tephra deposits composed Chaîne des Puys in the Auvergne were thought to
of rhyolitic and dacitic ignimbrite layers covering be ‘heaps of mining waste or gigantic furnaces from
2
an area of approximately 1000km (Temel et al, Roman forges’ (Krafft, 1991, p56).
1998). Unique landforms such as the ‘Fairy Maars or maar craters are used for water-based
Chimneys’ or the ‘Rose Valley’ attract tourists recreational purposes, but for most people they are
throughout the year, although the area is not notching more than a picturesque lake, often with
promoted as a volcanic destination but as more of a perfectly circular shape, not an obvious reminder
a generalized geological and cultural experience. of the violent past which created them. Examples

Figure 1.7 Hot air balloons travel over the volcanic landscape in Cappadocia, Turkey
Note: Flights start very early in the morning and up to 30 balloons are usually seen above the unique landscape of Göreme.

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