Active Hydrothermal Features as Tourist Attractions

Abstract

Tourists are looking increasingly for adventurous experiences by exploring unusual and interesting landscapes. Active volcanic and hydrothermal landscapes and their remarkable manifestations of geysers, fumaroles and boiling mud ponds are some of the surface features that fascinate visitors of National Parks, Geoparks and World Heritage areas worldwide. The uniqueness of hydrothermal activity based on volcanism has provided popular tourist attractions in many countries for several thousand years. The Romans for example have used hydrothermal springs on the Italian island Ischia and visited the Campi Flegrei for recreational purposes. In Iceland the original Geysir already attracted international visitors over 150 years ago, who came to observe this spectacular hydrothermal phenomenon. In Greece and Turkey volcanic hot springs have historically provided attractive destinations, as well as in New Zealand, Japan and the Americas. The fact that locations with hydrothermal activity based on active volcanism have acquired various forms of protected site status, adds a further dimension to their attraction and demonstrates a significant contribution to sustainable and nature based tourism. Countries such as Iceland, New Zealand and Japan have a long tradition of using hydrothermal activity in its various forms to offer tourists a unique natural experience. These environments however are also known for their unpredictable and potentially hostile nature, as the use of hydrothermal features as a natural resource for tourism does harbour certain risks with the potential to affect human health and safety. to several hundred metres in diameter. Apart from unexpected eruptions of hydrothermal vents with the potential to cause thermal burns, further risk factors include seismic activity such as earthquakes, lethal gas emissions of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) as well as ground instability through hydrothermal alteration. While it is essential to prevent injuries to tourists the management of hydrothermal hazards remains problematic. Precursory signs are not well understood by the general public and the communication of imminent danger is frequently unachievable. As a consequence serious thought needs to be given to the risk factors and the potential danger of areas in the proximity of active hydrothermal manifestations such as extreme hot springs and geysers. To improve the safety standards in hydrothermal landscapes that are used as main features in tourism, strategic guidelines for best practice management must cover ALL active volcanic and hydrothermal areas. This chapter looks at management issues at hydrothermal destinations with special consideration of areas where these unique features are integrated as tourist attractions. Examples from destinations traditionally based on active volcanic and hydrothermal phenomena are presented as case studies to highlight the risk management processes in individual countries. Potential hazards in volcanic and hydrothermal areas are assessed with a focus on the prevention of acciden...

The Cultural Ecohydrogeology of Mediterranean-Climate Springs: A Global Review with Case Studies

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Observation of the Dynamics of Hydrothermal Activity in La Soufrière of Guadeloupe Volcano with Joint Muography, Gravimetry, Electrical Resistivity Tomography, Seismic and Temperature Monitoring

“…Among the many phenomena observed on volcanoes, phreatic and hydrothermal explosions in volcanic geothermal fields [Rouwet et al, 2014, Erfurt-Cooper, 2017 are subject to a growing attention in response to the occurrence of the recent laterally-directed explosions that caused at least 58 fatalities at Ontake volcano (Japan) in 2014 [Kaneko et al, 2016]. Other eruptions occurred in New Zealand at the Te Maari Crater in Mount Tongariro (2012) [Jolly et al, 2014] and in Whakaari/White Island (2019) [Dempsey et al, 2020].…”

Abrupt changes of hydrothermal activity in a lava dome detected by combined seismic and muon monitoring

“…Phreatic and hydrothermal eruptions frequently occur in volcanic geothermal fields 1 . This type of events is driven by the rapid expansion of water flashing to steam due to either overheating or decompression, while magma remains at depth.…”

“…The destabilization of the hydrothermal system may lead to a sudden decompression and eventually evolve into a non-magmatic explosive eruption driven by hydrothermal fluids, liquid or vapor 2 . Although most volcanic hazard studies concern magmatic eruptions, events involving no magma emission gain a growing attention because of the occurrence of recent eruptions 1 , such as the laterally-directed explosions that caused at least 58 fatalities at Ontake volcano (Japan) in 2014 3 . A similar eruption occurred at the Te Maari Crater in Mount Tongariro (New Zealand) in 2012 4 .…”