Browsing by Subject "Himalayas"

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Access status: Open Access ,
A geotouristic valuation of the Marsyangdi Valley in the Annapurna Himal region and its potential for the development of geotourist attractions
(2015) Łach, Janusz Stanisław
The Marsyangdi Valley in the Annapurna Himal region is one of the most popular tourist-trekking attractions in Nepal. The performed evaluation of geotourist (geomorphological and hydrographic) objects and phenomena demonstrated a wide range of forms and, correspondingly, a huge potential for the development of geotourist attractions. The structure of The Marsyangdi Valley, which is a representative of a valley region of the High Himalaya, situated on metamorphic rocks, shows the co-existence of three major geomorphic processes: glacial, fluvial and slope, which determine specific landscape forms. Since the late 20th century, the landscape has been heavily affected by anthropogenic factors (grazing, land cultivation, settlement), reaching as far as 3500 meters above sea level, as well as by the dynamic growth and development of tourism. Expanding tourist infrastructure contributes to, inter alia, the degradation of the narrow valley bottom (tourist accommodation) and to increased mass movement on tourist trails. Despite its negative effects, tourism also exerts a positive influence on the preservation of the cultural heritage (sacred sites), which largely dominate the landscape and are a significant tourist attraction. The research was instrumental in defining the Marsyangdi Valley, characteristic of a geomorphological trail, as an excellent and qualified attraction in geotourist-exploratory tourism.