Article,
Feasibility Study of the ``Ilandagh'' Geopark Creation in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijan)
Geoheritage, 11 (4): 1973--1980 (Dec 1, 2019)
DOI: 10.1007/s12371-019-00409-7
Abstract
Azerbaijan has a significant potential in terms of geoparks creation. This had been established within the fulfillment of the ``National Strategy for Protection and Sustainable Use of the Geosites in Azerbaijan Republic for 2009--2012''. As a result of the conducted studies, the cadaster of geosites of various types had been worked out. It included paleontological, stratigraphical, tectonic, geomorphological, mineralogical, petrographic, hydrogeological, and ancient-mining-geological geosites. Analysis of their spatial distribution by the cited categories as well as environment-oriented significance and correspondence to the well-known sites of historical, cultural, and recreational value had revealed the great potential of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to establish geoparks of a global reach that meet UNESCO requirements. Taking into consideration the abovementioned, it is proposed to organize the geopark under the principle of ``three-in-one.'' It assumes the union of geological, geomorphological, and archeological sites as well as the sites of historical and cultural heritage and of biodiversity into a single legal system.
