Archaeodisaster Tourism refers to areas, where events and processes that happened from the boundary of Plio/Pleistocene (with the appearance of Hominids on Earth) to the beginnings of the Industrial Era, are 'recorded' in various ways.
Environmental changes, whether man-made or natural, contemporary or past, periodical or chaotic, have always been expressed as a complex interplay of physical, chemical and biological processes of the Earth, and had multi-dimensional consequences (human and material loss, economic and environmental after-effects, cultural loss). On the other hand, understanding when, where, why, and how hazards occur is the first step in minimizing their impacts on our lives. And a great deal of information regarding past disasters and after-shock cultural readjustments may turn into a very useful tool for modern scientists in order to plan effective mitigation strategies. The ‘natural’ and the ‘human’ are inextricably bound together in hazardous situations. The multidimensional impact of “disasters” can be recognised as uncertainties, ecological or environmental stress / shock, pollution, contamination, degradation, ecological disturbances / perturbations, disaster-induced collapse of Human Ecosystems or Socio-economic Systems, calamities, crises, catastrophes, etc.
Not surprisingly, Heritage Landscapes (both Natural & Cultural) are, also, acknowledged as irreplaceable sources with outstanding universal value. Protecting the natural and human ecosystems means consequently defending cultural diversity and human dignity. This worldwide need is now openly expressed by the international scientific community and the majority of nations, organizations, agents and local societies. Heritage issues comprise the archaeological, ethnographic, ecological, scientific and industrial features that exist or lay hidden in the modern landscapes.
Archaeodisaster Tourism embraces many groups of areas, as such:(1) the famous sceneries of colossal archaeodisasters e.g. Toba - Indonesia, Santorini - Greece, Yellowstone - USA, Deccan Traps - India
(2) the pristine lands of Humanity, places with prominent palaeoanthropological significance e.g. Rift Valley - Africa, Flores Island - Indonesia, Neanderthal Valley, Germany
(3) controversial landscapes famous for their lore and myth, e.g. proposed locations of Atlantis, Bermoudes' Triangle
(4) modern areas which are a palimspest of archaeodisasters, e.g. Crete - Greece, Venice-Italy, Alexandria - Egypt, even mega-cities, e.g. New York - USA, London - UK
(5) areas with endangered landscapes of tangible & intangible heritage (where, traditions, languages and other socio-cultural patterns are endangered / about to- or have extincted), e.g. Amazonian tribes, Kalas tribe in Central Asia, areas where huge dams have or are about to construct, e.g. Three Gorges area - China, new dams construction area- Ethiopia
(6) landscapes with endangered biodiversity, e.g. riverine estuaries all over the world, African savannahs, coral reefs
(7) areas where Nature 'forged' majestic landscapes over million of years, e.g. Grand Canyon, Mediterranean Basin
(8) places with artistic human expressions, e.g. French & Iberian caves with Paleolithic rock paintings, Sahara mural art
(6) landscapes with endangered biodiversity, e.g. riverine estuaries all over the world, African savannahs, coral reefs
(7) areas where Nature 'forged' majestic landscapes over million of years, e.g. Grand Canyon, Mediterranean Basin
(8) places with artistic human expressions, e.g. French & Iberian caves with Paleolithic rock paintings, Sahara mural art
