Geological Heritage of Syros Island, Cyclades Complex, Greece: An Assessment and Geotourism Perspectives

Abstract

Syros Island, Cyclades complex, central Aegean Sea, Greece, is a prime locality for the study of processes active in deep levels of orogens and is world famous for its exceptionally well preserved glaucophane schist-to eclogite-facies lithologies. Glaucophane schists and eclogites are witnesses of one of the fundamental tectonic processes operating on planet Earth. Results of geological research on Syros have contributed a lot to our present understanding of why and how these processes work that make oceans disappear, how mountain ranges can start to form, how magma chambers form to feed volcanoes, how subduction mechanisms can trigger earthquakes and lead to tsunamis, and a series of other spectacular or very impressive phenomena which have been observed and studied throughout the earth’s window offered in that particular place of the world. The description, interpretation, and evaluation of the important geological heritage of Syros, in combination with a SWOT analysis, showed the geotourism potential of the region. The results of this paper are intended to constitute a valuable tool for enhancing and raising awareness of the geological heritage of the island of Syros, regarding to the added value activities to be developed on a sustainable basis.

Keywords

• geosite
• geotourism
• Syros island
• metamorphic rocks
• subduction zone
• sustainable development