Assessing Geotourism Resources of the Moldavian Plateau. Case Study: Repedea Geomorphosite
Keywords:
geodiversity hotspots, geoheritage conservation, UNESCO global geopark, Moldavian Plateau, Repedea geomorphositeAbstract
[EN] Repedea Hill, located approximately 9 km south of Iași City, Romania, is a site of exceptional geological, geomorphological, ecological, and cultural importance. Situated at the boundary between the Central Moldavian Plateau and the Jijia Hills, the area stands out for its high geodiversity, primarily shaped by Sarmatian limestone formations that create distinctive karst landscapes. Repedea was the subject of Romania’s first geological paper written in Romanian, which laid the foundations of Romanian geoscience and advanced the understanding of the Moldavian Plateau’s geomorphology.
Despite its scientific significance and remarkable geodiversity potential, the site remains underutilized in terms of geotourism development. This study assesses the potential of Repedea Hill to be integrated into a future UNESCO Global Geopark, focusing on its geoheritage and sustainable valorization. The research combines field surveys with an extensive literature review to evaluate the site’s geological, geomorphological, ecological, and cultural features. The findings emphasize the exceptional scientific value of Repedea Hill while identifying major challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited accessibility, and insufficient conservation efforts. Consequently, the paper proposes a set of management and geotourism strategies centered on sustainable development, environmental education, and improved visitor facilities. These include the development of thematic trails, interpretive panels, and a visitor center designed to foster public awareness and ensure the site’s long-term protection. Overall, Repedea Hill holds strong potential as a model for sustainable geotourism in the Moldavian Plateau, capable of enhancing the visibility of Romania’s geoheritage and contributing to the economic revitalization of one of Europe’s less-developed regions.
[FR] La colline de Repedea, située à environ 9 km au sud de la ville d’Iași (Roumanie), constitue un site d’une importance géologique, géomorphologique, écologique et culturelle exceptionnelle. Localisée à la limite entre le Plateau Moldave central et les collines de Jijia, cette zone se distingue par une géodiversité élevée, principalement façonnée par les formations calcaires sarmatiques qui génèrent des paysages karstiques remarquables. Repedea a fait l’objet du premier article géologique rédigé en langue roumaine, ce qui a posé les bases de la géoscience. roumaine et a contribué à la compréhension de la géomorphologie du Plateau Moldave. Malgré son importance scientifique et son potentiel géotouristique remarquable, le site demeure largement sous-valorisé du point de vue du développement géotouristique. Cette étude évalue le potentiel d’intégration de la colline de Repedea dans un futur Géoparc mondial de l’UNESCO, en mettant l’accent sur son géopatrimoine et sa valorisation durable. La recherche combine des observations de terrain à une analyse approfondie de la littérature existante afin d’évaluer les caractéristiques géologiques, géomorphologiques, écologiques et culturelles du site. Les résultats soulignent la valeur scientifique exceptionnelle de la colline de Repedea tout en identifiant plusieurs défis majeurs, tels qu’une infrastructure insuffisante, une accessibilité limitée et un manque de mesures de conservation adéquates. Par conséquent, l’étude propose un ensemble de stratégies de gestion et de développement géotouristique fondées sur le développement durable, l’éducation environnementale et l’amélioration des installations pour les visiteurs. Celles-ci incluent la création de sentiers thématiques, de panneaux d’interprétation et d’un centre d’accueil destiné à renforcer la sensibilisation du public et à assurer la protection à long terme du site. Dans l’ensemble, la colline de Repedea présente un fort potentiel en tant que modèle de géotourisme durable dans le Plateau Moldave, capable de renforcer la visibilité du géopatrimoine roumain et de contribuer à la revitalisation économique de l’une des régions les moins développées d’Europe.
DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.15551/lsgdc.v53i2.01
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