Tools for Managing the Integrity of Tourist Volcanic Caves in the Canary Islands Due to Instability Problems
Natural caves have a great heritage and natural value, which has made them a tourist attraction that contributes positively to the diversification of tourist offerings in Spain. Volcanic caves are a particular type of natural cave, exclusive to the Canary Islands. The tourist management of these cav...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/7/236 |
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| author | Luis E. Hernández-Gutiérrez Juan C. Santamarta Leticia Pacheco Esther Martín-González Helena Hernández-Martín Ramón Xifré Carlos Calderón-Guerrero |
| author_facet | Luis E. Hernández-Gutiérrez Juan C. Santamarta Leticia Pacheco Esther Martín-González Helena Hernández-Martín Ramón Xifré Carlos Calderón-Guerrero |
| author_sort | Luis E. Hernández-Gutiérrez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural caves have a great heritage and natural value, which has made them a tourist attraction that contributes positively to the diversification of tourist offerings in Spain. Volcanic caves are a particular type of natural cave, exclusive to the Canary Islands. The tourist management of these caves entails certain peculiarities that do not occur in other types of tourist establishments. The caves are exposed to certain natural hazards that are important to recognize, evaluate, and where appropriate, plan and adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the safety of visitors and workers. The main natural hazard is the structural stability of the cavity, which can affect workers and visitors. Volcanic caves present structural, lithological, and geomechanical singularities that require a specific methodology to study their stability. This study proposes a specific protocol for the early detection and management of instabilities in tourist volcanic caves, in order to help with the proper management of this ecotourism resource. To this end, tools are provided for the recognition, characterization, and geological and geomechanical analysis, classification of the types of instability in volcanic tubes, and geospatial techniques to control the structural stability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4bbf13c85cb0417792b126cf66b24e31 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-4bbf13c85cb0417792b126cf66b24e312025-08-20T03:08:06ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632025-06-0115723610.3390/geosciences15070236Tools for Managing the Integrity of Tourist Volcanic Caves in the Canary Islands Due to Instability ProblemsLuis E. Hernández-Gutiérrez0Juan C. Santamarta1Leticia Pacheco2Esther Martín-González3Helena Hernández-Martín4Ramón Xifré5Carlos Calderón-Guerrero6Regional Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility, Government of the Canary Islands, 38071 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, SpainDepartamento de Ingeniería Agraria y del Medio Natural, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, SpainAllirroz, S.L., 35509 Playa Honda, SpainMuseo de Ciencias Naturales de Tenerife, 38003 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, SpainInstituto Volcanológico de Canarias (INVOLCAN), 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, SpainInstituto Volcanológico de Canarias (INVOLCAN), 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, SpainDepartment of Forest Engineering and Environmental Management, Technical University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainNatural caves have a great heritage and natural value, which has made them a tourist attraction that contributes positively to the diversification of tourist offerings in Spain. Volcanic caves are a particular type of natural cave, exclusive to the Canary Islands. The tourist management of these caves entails certain peculiarities that do not occur in other types of tourist establishments. The caves are exposed to certain natural hazards that are important to recognize, evaluate, and where appropriate, plan and adopt the necessary measures to guarantee the safety of visitors and workers. The main natural hazard is the structural stability of the cavity, which can affect workers and visitors. Volcanic caves present structural, lithological, and geomechanical singularities that require a specific methodology to study their stability. This study proposes a specific protocol for the early detection and management of instabilities in tourist volcanic caves, in order to help with the proper management of this ecotourism resource. To this end, tools are provided for the recognition, characterization, and geological and geomechanical analysis, classification of the types of instability in volcanic tubes, and geospatial techniques to control the structural stability.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/7/236geotourismstructural stabilitycave managementlava tubestouristic cavesvolcanic caves |
| spellingShingle | Luis E. Hernández-Gutiérrez Juan C. Santamarta Leticia Pacheco Esther Martín-González Helena Hernández-Martín Ramón Xifré Carlos Calderón-Guerrero Tools for Managing the Integrity of Tourist Volcanic Caves in the Canary Islands Due to Instability Problems Geosciences geotourism structural stability cave management lava tubes touristic caves volcanic caves |
| title | Tools for Managing the Integrity of Tourist Volcanic Caves in the Canary Islands Due to Instability Problems |
| title_full | Tools for Managing the Integrity of Tourist Volcanic Caves in the Canary Islands Due to Instability Problems |
| title_fullStr | Tools for Managing the Integrity of Tourist Volcanic Caves in the Canary Islands Due to Instability Problems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tools for Managing the Integrity of Tourist Volcanic Caves in the Canary Islands Due to Instability Problems |
| title_short | Tools for Managing the Integrity of Tourist Volcanic Caves in the Canary Islands Due to Instability Problems |
| title_sort | tools for managing the integrity of tourist volcanic caves in the canary islands due to instability problems |
| topic | geotourism structural stability cave management lava tubes touristic caves volcanic caves |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/7/236 |
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