Tourism versus the transformation of ksours - Southern Morocco case study

Ksours form a cultural landscape for most of the countries of North Africa. They are an important part of the cultural heritage of the desert areas in Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Mali or Morocco. They also become an undeniable attraction for tourism. The article looks at the impact of tourism on the transformation of ksours. It is based on comparative field research in the Dades-Drâa Valley (Southern Morocco), the region of the highest ksour concentration. The results show that despite being very close to most sustainable tourism indicators, the whole impact of tourism is rather negative. Tourism is creating social disproportions, being the first incentive to abandon the ksours by those who are not involved in the sector. This is leading to the destruction of particular houses first, and later to the destruction of the whole village. The revitalization of ksours remains a theoretical solution only; thus the author suggests paying greater attention to social equity in order to stop the transformation of ksours at the 2nd stage of development .

The sources of moisture in the sand dunes – the example of the Western Sahara dune field

Climatic and meteorological conditions may limit the aeolian transport within barchans. An explanation of that issue was the main goal of the investigation held in Western Sahara dune fields located around Tarfaya and Laâyoune. Particular attention was paid to the factors causing the moisture content rising of the sand dune surface layer, which could influence the wind threshold shear velocity in the aeolian transport. The wetted surface layer of sand, when receiving moisture from precipitation or suspensions, reduces the aeolian transport, even in case of wind velocity above 4–5 m s–1. Fog and dew condensation does not affect the moisture of deeper sand layers, what occurs after rainfall

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Fluvial landforms and processes in the region of the Aegean Sea, based on Ikaria Island (Greece)

Main aims of the research were: i) to assess the degree of development of fluvial landforms on Aegean Islands and ii) to determine the influence of fluvial processes on modification of islands relief. Field studies were conducted on the Ikaria Island, with highly diversified geology and relief, typical of mountainous islands of the Aegean Sea. The island is heavily dissected by deeply incised valleys and gorges with very steep slopes. The valleys on Ikaria Island vary in size, direction, geological setting and maturity. In the four small catchments located in the northern part of the Ikaria Island four types of valleys (from 1st to 4th order, according to Strahler) were studies in detail. Uppermost parts of these valleys (1st order valleys) have slightly concave cross-sections covered with regolith without developed channels. Such forms gradually evolve into 2nd order valleys with seasonal river channels, and further downstream, into well developed deep river valleys. Ravines with channels incised into solid rock are characteristic of the 3rd order valleys. The 4th order valleys are well developed, deeply incised gorges with wide channels sometimes accompanied by river terraces. Channels of small streams, rivers and field tracks in the mountains are subject to differentiated modelling by running water. In islands of the Aegean Sea, intensity of this modelling is diversified and rather small. It depends mostly on rainfall intensity, bedrock resistance to erosion, slope inclination and aspect. Catastrophic hydrometeorological events such as one which occurred in Ikaria in October, 2010, are responsible for rapid modification of whole valley floors and modification of river channels at lower river runs, within deltas and alluvial fans