The Importance of Ghare-Palchigh Geological Site In Sustainable Tourism Development

In this research, the importance of Ghare-Palchigh geological site in southeast of Maragheh area with a special view on its hot spring and its role in local economic and sustainable tourism development was studied. The hot spring of this geo-site is a geological heritage that, in this research, its therapeutic effects were proved. The hydrogeochemistry analysis carried out by ICP-OEC and ICP-MS methods show that Ghare-Palchigh hot spring enriched in calcium bicarbonate and is in equilibrium with calcite and is in the range of mature waters and has no significant toxic substances. The concentration of heavy metals is low and not polluted and not harmful for environmental. Also the geochemical data show there is a high amount of elements calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine, silicon, lithium, chlorine, sulfate, and bicarbonate. So the spring has a therapeutic aspect and can be one of the essential destinations for curative geo-tourism. The geological site of Ghare-Palchigh with having healing potential (hot spring), if tourism infrastructures provided in that area, such as suitable access roads, accommodation, welfare, security, signposts, proper supervision and efficient management, training of local individuals, etc., can become a real geo-site. It also can be effective in local infrastructure improvement, local economic development and creating jobs by preserving geology heritage and land conservation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ghare-Palchigh ، Tourism development ، Geological site