Browsing by Author "Lorenc, Marek W."

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Access status: Open Access ,
Geotouristic aspects of the Geopark Cabo de Gata-Níjar (Andalusia, Spain)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2019) Lorenc, Marek W.; Janusz, Małgorzata
The Cabo de Gata-Níjar Geopark is one of the most remarkable examples of the geological heritage in Spain, and it comprises the largest volcanic massif in Andalusia. It is built of andesites and dacites with such typical volcanic forms like lava flows, volcanic calderas, volcanic domes and columnar joints. The ancient beaches and reefs demonstrate the presence of climate change as well as of a subtropical sea. The tourism in this region is mainly focused on its beaches and some remains of the cultural heritage, like salt works or the Rodalquilar gold mine. This study pretends to analyze the reasons and consequences of this matter. Highlighting the good state of preservation of this area and the possibility of enjoyment of its beauty, more attention should be paid to the popularization of the local geological aspects, which would significantly increase the awareness and interest among the tourists.
Access status: Open Access ,
The cultural landscape of the Linares-La Carolina mining district (Spain)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2008) Peréz Sánchez, Antonio Angel; Lorenc, Marek W.
The Linares-La Carolina mining district is located in the north of Andalusia. In 1999, the European partners of the MINET (European Mining Heritage Network) Project visited the district and described it as »The best kept secret in Europe«. This is a heritage of international historical, technological, cultural and economic importance with an exceptional concentration of remains. Some of these, unmatched anywhere, represent 4000 years of mining history, and of an intense »Industrial Revolution« that shaped a unique cultural landscape. The great importance of the mining and smelting activities in the area during the industrial period resulted in numerous different buildings that changed the aspect of the place and left their mark in towns and villages, creating a distinctive landscape. The ore dressing floors, significant features in themselves, gave rise to huge waste accumulations, tailings and dams that deeply mark the landscape. The first Cornish pumping engine was installed in Pozo Ancho Mine in 1849, proving to be such a success that a great proportion of the area’s mines were equipped with these Leviathans of the industrial world. There are still a great number of Cornish pumping Engine Houses in the district. Their robust construction has allowed them to continue to stand out as reference points in the landscape and as symbols of industrial architecture. The Linares-La Carolina District has probably one of the largest concentrations of pumping engine houses in the world. Six important foundries (La Cruz, Arroyo Hidalgo, La Esperanza, La Tortilla, La Fortuna and San Luis) were working at the same time in Linares, and three more in La Carolina. In these, galena was smelted to produce metallic lead. The ancient mining routes, and the revaluation of an Iberian-Roman settlement, are foci for several archaeological investigations currently being carried out in the area. These have confirmed the antiquity of the mining and smelting. These could be included as part of the tourist experience. A reconstruction of the Iberian-Roman settlement, including a small village and a mine, could be a key element illustrating how this area developed at the start of its mining history. Currently, several projects are turning the mining heritage into a real resource for social regeneration and as an attraction for visitors. The landscape of the Linares-La Carolina mining district should be a real museum that people would wish to visit. There is a need to preserve and interpret both artifacts and a way of life. The Arrayanes Project has been, and must be in the future, a partnership between the local people and their heritage. A long term aim is to get the Mining Landscape of the the Linares-La Carolina district designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.