Geomorphological Heritage in Viñales National Park (Aspiring UNESCO Geopark): Geomatic Tools Applied to Geotourism in Pinar del Río, Cuba

José Luis Goy, Jose Luis Corvea, Irene de Bustamante, Antonio Miguel Martínez-Graña (), Carlos Díaz-Guanche, Caridad Zazo, Cristino J. Dabrio, José Ángel González-Delgado, Alberto Blanco and Carlos E. Nieto
Additional contact information
José Luis Goy: Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza Merced s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Jose Luis Corvea: Consultora Ambiental Inversiones GAMMA SA, C/ 2, nº 124 e/ 1ra y 3ra Miramar, Playa, La Habana C.P. 11300, Cuba
Irene de Bustamante: Departamento de Geología, Edificio Ciencias, Universidad de Alcalá, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Antonio Miguel Martínez-Graña: Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza Merced s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Carlos Díaz-Guanche: Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Pinar del Río, Martí Final, Pinar del Río C.P. 20100, Cuba
Caridad Zazo: Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Sección Geología, Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal nº 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Cristino J. Dabrio: Departamento de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Faculty of Geology, Universidad Complutense, 28840 Madrid, Spain
José Ángel González-Delgado: Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza Merced s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Alberto Blanco: IMDEA Agua, Avenida Punto Con, nº 2 Parque Científico Tecnológico de la Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Madrid, Spain
Carlos E. Nieto: Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza Merced s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: A detailed analysis of the Viñales National Park (VNP) was carried out to evaluate the main geosites of geomorphological interest inside the park. This allowed the selection of areas (AIG) and localities (LIG) with 20 geosites of geological interest (PIG) suitable to evaluate their importance as geoheritage. Moreover, three field trips and one virtual itinerary encompassing the park aimed to improve the geological–geomorphological knowledge to be used in geotouristic and preservation issues. The methodology included preparing five maps: relief, drainage pattern, slopes, lithology and geomorphology (forms and structures) and representing them on a digital terrain model (DTM) for a better visualisation and selecting the geosites (poljes, valleys and mountain fronts). The evaluation of the selected PIG is based on the criteria proposed by Spanish Institute of Geology and Mining, grouping them in places and areas of interest. The virtual itinerary favour real-time usage of web sites and geoportals. As a result, this paper presents map layers and geomorphological descriptions of the AIG and LIG with the most relevant aspects and valuations of the PIG, AIG and LIG. The PIG reached values between 1050 (Viñales Valley) and 365 (La Jutia Valley). The AIG and LIG ranged between 2190 (Santo Tomás Polje) and 675 (La Cuevita Polje).

Keywords: geomorphological–geological heritage; valorisation; virtual globes; 3D georoutes; Viñales national park; Cuba (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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