Geoheritage Inventory and Geotourism Studies of Gökçeada (Çanakkale, Western Türkiye)

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Güngör Y.

GEOHERITAGE, cilt.16, sa.138, ss.1-29, 2024 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 16 Sayı: 138
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s12371-024-01038-5
  • Dergi Adı: GEOHERITAGE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Geobase
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-29
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Evet

Özet

Gökçeada, the largest island of Türkiye, reveals metamorphic, igneous, volcanic and sedimentary rocks spanning a wide

age range from Palaeozoic to Quaternary. This rich geological diversity has given the island rich geological heritage elements.

In order to determine the geological heritage inventory of the island, the ProGEO 98 classification was taken as an

example. In this article, 30 geological heritage (GG) elements, 10 cultural heritage (GCH) elements, 3 mythological stories

(GMH) and 4 natural heritage (GNH) elements were identified. The majority of these natural and cultural values are related

to geodiversity and provide a significant advantage for geotourism opportunities on the island. Gökçeada offers abundant

opportunities for mountaineering, trekking, haking, rock climbing, windsurfing, kite surfing, canoeing and diving activities.

In addition, Gökçeada has geological resources that have influenced human life on the island since the Neolithic Period. In

this paper, different Geotravers are proposed based on the geological heritage inventory of Gökçeada. The determination of

the geological heritage inventory will cause geotourism activities to start in a controlled manner, to be supported by nature

education and to continue tourism activities throughout the year, not limited to the summer months. From a sustainable

development perspective, these identified geotrails will not only increase the share of geotourism revenues in total tourism

revenues, but also contribute to the mandatory protection of some geological heritage elements that are at risk of destruction

due to the ongoing threat of uncontrolled urbanisation on the island.