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Aspiring Hoggar and Tidikelt geoparks in Algeria

  • ArabGU2016
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Abstract

Algeria does not count any classified geoparks despite its wealthy geological heritage, particularly in Tamanrasset province (southern Algeria). The economic activities in this province require promotion and diversification apart from the oil and gas industry. While tourism can be a crucial driver of its local development, tourist arrivals and infrastructures, especially in villages, indicate how underdeveloped this sector is. The present paper aims to evaluate, for the first time, both natural and cultural potential, targeting a possible geopark classification proposal in this province to boost its tourism and local development. The present study’s results highlighted a concentration of geological and non-geological features (archaeology, architecture, intangible cultural heritage, biodiversity) in two (2) regions of Tamanrasset (Hoggar and Tidikelt). Both areas host the largest number of villages, favoring local inhabitants’ involvement in local development and tourism activities.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the ERASMUS Mobility+ Program, conducted during the stay at the Earth Sciences Department of Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Nova University of Lisbon (FCT-NOVA), Portugal. Special thanks are due to Professor Jose Carlos Kullberg for his valuable suggestions, comments, and participation in the development of the various maps, to improve this document. We extend our sincere thanks to Bencherouda Belkacem (OPCA, Hoggar), who helped to obtain photographs and provided detailed input on archeology in the study area. We also thank Ben Abdallah Mohamed Brahim (artisan sorro lmalmin) for his many contributions and especially for his handicraft photos. We would also like to express our deepest thanks to Mr. Moulley Charaf Chabou and Mr. Makhloufi Hadjab for their comments and constructive reviews that significantly helped to improve and enriched this document. Thanks to Mrs. Zoubida Nemer for improving the English in this document.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Geomorphology and Geohazard, FSTGAT, USTHB, BP 32, El-Alia, Bab Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, Algeria

    Chahnez Azil & Mohamed Abdessamad Rezzaz

  2. Laboratoire de Géodynamique, Géologie de l’Ingénieur et Planétologie, FSTGAT, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene, BP 32, El-Alia, Bab Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, Algeria

    Abderrahmane Bendaoud

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  1. Chahnez Azil
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  2. Mohamed Abdessamad Rezzaz
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  3. Abderrahmane Bendaoud
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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Current Advances in Geology of North Africa

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Azil, C., Rezzaz, M.A. & Bendaoud, A. Aspiring Hoggar and Tidikelt geoparks in Algeria. Arab J Geosci 13, 1078 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-06017-y

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