Current World Environment Vol. 10(3), 1055-1064 (2015) Geomorphosites and Geotourism in the Kavir National Park (Central Iran) ABDOLLAH YAZDI1*, MOHAMMAD FOUDAZI2, RAHIM DABIRI3 and FARBOD FARAJI1 1Department of Geology, Kahnooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran. 2Assistant Professor, Department of Geology, Islamshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. 3Assistant Professor, Department of Geology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran. http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.10.3.40 (Received: August 24, 2015; Accepted: November 23, 2015) ABSTRACT Geotourism and geomorphotourism are considered the most important sub-categories of tourism industry in recent years, and their systematic development based on the principles of proper planning and creating required infrastructure ­ can have a direct impact on sustainable development of every country. With regard to the climate and tectonic conditions, Iran has the most versatile landforms and exquisite geological phenomena that can attract many geoscientists as well as adventurous tourists. The purpose of this article is introducing Kavir national park (Maranjab Desert) geomorphosites, and exploring ways to develop geotourism in this area. Geomorphotourism is tourism with emphasis on visiting geomorphologic phenomena and landscapes. At the same time, the integration of historic and cultural heritage, as well as ecological attractions, highlight its importance and further increases its impact on development. The results of the studies show that Kavir national park area is among the most capable regions for sustainable tourism development, because it is one of the most accessible desert areas of Iran, it also has a moderate temperature, geological and tourism attraction diversity, diversity of wilderness and vegetation species, outstanding desert landscape, along with cultural and historic attractions. The region takes advantage of landscapes such as saif (seif) dunes, barchan dunes, ripple marks, desert pavements, sand dunes, nebkhas, salt lakes, salt polygons, inflated and puffy salt surfaces, Sargardan Island (Wandering Island) and so on. Kavir national park has a lot of potential for carrying out further studies and the impact on economic development and operation at national and international levels. This article seeks to introduce mentioned potentials in Kavir national park region. Key words: geotourism, geomorphotourism, Kavir national park, salt lakes, salt polygon. INTRODUCTION Geotourism along with ecotourism includes various activities and are quite important in terms of their Iran is a country of great culture and impact on environment and its components, and advanced civilization, and its natural and cultural on geosites. Hence, special attention should be heritage diversity has made it one of the top ten paid to geosites and geomorphosites. Geosites world tourism countries, and its archaeological, and geomorphosites are the two new concepts in cultural, natural and geological attractions has tourism studies, that have entered into geographic created an excellent platform for development of and tourism literature with the emphasis on locating geotourism1. Geotourism, as a tourism subcategory special and valuable regions for tourism3. Geosites has become an important part of tourism studies. Iran are the locations that contain interesting shapes and has a beautiful nature, diverse climate and regions geological and geomorphologic features, and they rich in unique earth sciences features, in which can become geosites in case tourism infrastructures studying these attractions seems essential for further are provided4. Therefore, the geomorphosites understanding and development of geotourism2. or special geomorphologic places are surface 1056 YAZDI et al., Curr. World Environ., Vol. 10(3), 1055-1064 (2015) formations that have special value in scientific, Research methodology ecologic, cultural, aesthetic, and economic aspects The biggest desert (salt desert) of Iran for the benefit of tourism and people5 and as one of and the world is the Central Desert of Iran, which the important elements of natural protected areas, has occurred naturally10. Deserts of Iran, in terms alone or together with attractions and religious, of geographical location are divided into two main cultural, historical and ecological heritage, they can groups of coastal deserts in south of the country, have a significant role in tourism development of and inland deserts that are spread in center, east the region6, and as one of the important elements and south east of the country. Inland deserts are of natural protected areas, they have natural and also divided into hot deserts (Dashte- lut, Jazmurian cultural values, and in general, an special natural and tabas), and relatively warm deserts (central and landscape, which alone, or in combination with eastern deserts)11. Desert areas constitute about 25 cultural, historical and ecological heritage, provides percent of Iran’s total area, and these areas contain great potential for sustainable tourism. During a set of geomorphological phenomena associated past decade, several attempts have been made with the deserts. Kavir-e Lut (Lut desert) and Kavir-e to evaluate quality of historic geomorphologic and Bozorg (Big Desert) are the two large deserts of tourism geomorphosites capabilities in different Iran1. aspects7. One of the important factors in development of every country is the optimal use of all potentials The research method of this study, is of that environment using efficient management by a combination of systematic library resources use of ideas and studies of experts and innovators review, field studies, and software and analytical in their professional fields. Nowadays, proper procedure. Through library and internet research, management in Iran’s tourism industry is crucial for relevant articles on geotourism in journals and in economic growth and development due to the growth internal and foreign websites were gathered. In of population and reduction of resources. In these addition, some needed information, especially conditions, however, using proper management quantitative information, were gathered from practices, we can think of raising income by attracting organizations such as Geological Survey of Iran domestic and foreign tourists, as well as maintaining (GSI), Iranian Metrological Organization (IRIMO), ecotourism centers and geosites. Dry and desert and Jihad Agricultural Research Institute. In field areas of Iran are scattered, just like other parts of research method, information was obtained by the world. Vast areas of earth are covered with dry direct observation (photos and videos), interview and desert regions. and questionnaire Deserts of Iran, which constitute nearly Introducing the area under study 25% of Iran’s area, have unique collection of In search for the most beautiful desert areas geomorphological phenomenon associated with in recent years that includes a unique collection of deserts . Deserts are flat and low areas spreading in geotourism potentials, and to find water resources in alluvial plains in arid climates8 and salty crusts cover the lowlands, digging wells was such a hard work so these areas in form of large coatings9. Dasht-e lut that the area was initially named ‘Mard Ranj Aab’ (A and Dasht-e Kavir are the two big deserts of Iran, painstaking man for water), and over time it renamed having a good potential for tourism. Kavir National to Maranjab (Kavir national park). The desert area of Park is located in the western border of Dasht-e Kavir national park is located in the border area of Kavir, and it has a great potential for tourism. Some Isfahan, Semnan, Qom and at a distance of 45 km of these potentials include sand dunes, salt lakes of northeast Aran-o Bidgol city, of suburb of the city unique landscape, and the surrounding desert of Kashan, in geographical coordinates of 34 18 N, plains, which offer a beautiful landscape to the eyes and 51 49 E12, and is easily accessible. Kavir national of tourists and nature lovers. This article introduces park area compared to other arid regions is a rare geotourism features of this area, and provides space in the central part of Iran, due to the relative recommendations for the development of tourism moderate temperature, variety of tourism attractions in this area. and animal and plant species, and the existence of typical desert features13. The area is borders YAZDI et al., Curr. World Environ., Vol. 10(3), 1055-1064 (2015) 1057 the salt lake of Aran-o Bidgol to the north, Masileh join and form a w shaped barchan. Single and desert and Sultan salt pond and the Pond of Moreh complex forms of barchan dunes can be seen around to the west, Band Rig desert and National Park of Maranjab caravanserai. The height of barchan dunes Desert to the east, and Yakhab and Latif mountains in Kavir national park (Maranjab area) reaches 5.8 to the southeast, and Aran and Bidgol and Kashan meters and the maximum distance between the two city to the southwest. The average height from sea arms reaches 70 meters (Fig. 2). level is about 850 meters, and is covered mainly by sabulous hills and plains (Fig. 1). Vegetation consists Saif dunes: sword shapes dunes with sharp of halophyte plants such as tamarisk, haloxylon and distinct ridge are called saif, and they can be and Zygophyllum shrubs. In addition, with regard to seen in sand areas of Kavir national park region (Fig. availability of water and variety of food sources in 3). the region, animals