GEOSITES AS A POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM – OVERVIEW OF RELEVANT SITES IN ESWATINI (FORMERLY SWAZILAND)
Journal Title: GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites - Year 2018, Vol 21, Issue 1
Abstract
Despite being one of the smallest countries in Africa, the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) is characterized by many locations, which are due to their geoscientific significance to be termed as geosites, and which are here in an overview presented and briefly explained. Each of them can be assigned to a specific scientific approach, e.g. as a landscape, a geological, a geomorphologic, an archaeological (prehistoric) or a mining heritage site. Eswatini yields remarkable landscapes like the Mahamba Gorge and the Sibebe Monolith, it exhibits worldwide one of the largest in granite formed caves (Gobholo), and possibly the oldest dated rocks in Africa (Piggs Peak gneisses), as well as beautiful and scientifically relevant rock painting sites (Nsangwini, Sandlane and Hholoshini) and three abandoned mines in the Barberton Greenstone Belt (Forbes, Ngwenya and Bulembu). The latter have contributed largely to the infrastructural development of the country. The geotouristic value of the respective sites is evaluated and commented, and it is assumed that in future these and other, here not yet mentioned geosites, may contribute to income generating processes for the country and the local communities.
Authors and Affiliations
SCHLÜTER Thomas, SCHUMANN Andreas
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP360385
- DOI 10.30892/gtg.22222-309
- Views 94
- Downloads 0
Tourism Development and Cross-Border Cooperation in the Hungarian-Romanian Border Region
Tourism began to play an important role as a tool of development regarding cross-border cooperations after the change of the regime. A more efficient cooperation is needed to employ the potentials in tourism-related deve...
Natural Potential for Tourism Development in Southern Altai (Kazakhstan)
The mountain regions incorporate some of the major ecosystems of the Earth. They also include most significant mineral, natural, agricultural and tourist-recreational resources. A complex regionally-specific geographic e...
Selective Issues on Buziaş Touristic Resort of Romania Between Emblematic Tourism Economies and Post-Communist Dereliction
Since the post-socialism breakdown, the post-90 Romanian capitalist economy fuelled by chaotic interventions in local urban restructuring changed the urban functionality, the local ways of life of the locals and the inne...
Tourist Guides’ Contribution to Sustainability in Romania
The study aims to identify the tourist guide’s role and importance, as a mediator between demand and supply, between tourists and local collectivities in the support of local economy and sustainable tourism, within touri...
REHABILITATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS FOR A TOURIST DEVELOPMENT THE CASE OF BATNA REGION’S MOUNTAINS (ALGERIA)
The rugged mountains of the province of Batna suffer an isolation which explains the poverty of the population and the precariousness of their living conditions. If rural and urban spaces require scientific methods for t...