The concept of geomorphosites is relatively recent
(PANIZZA, 2001), finding application in many European
nations, but in Africa much research on geomorphological heritage
has still to be done. The research group has started studying
landscape units, geomorphology, geomorphosites and
geological heritage in different North-African regions, with the
aim of drawing thematic geomorphological maps. The choice
of these arguments as main objectives of this research is determined
by the absolute lack of specific researches on these
topics in Morocco. Furthermore, the very interesting landscapes,
very rich in geological and geomorphological sites, deserve
to be better known, safeguarded and valorised. This
research has allowed to realise the first example of Landscape
and Geomorphosites Map in Morocco, compiled for the area
of Ifrane and Azrou in the Middle Atlas (Central Morocco).
This region is already inserted in the classical tourist routes that
connect Fes and Meknès with the South of Morocco and this
fact, together with its geological and geomorphological variety,
has suggested its selection for this type of applied research. The
research carried out by means of the analysis of airborne- and
satellite images and direct field observations have brought to the
recognition of 14 landscape units in which 42 geomorphosites
have been selected. These geomorphosites comprise springs, karst
landforms (polje, dolines, caves, sinkholes, stone forests, cryptokarstic
dolines), carbonate depositional landforms (travertines
and waterfalls), fluvial landforms (meanders, canyons, palaeo-valleys,
etc.), structural landforms (triangular facets, hogbacks, cuestas,
residual outcrops, etc.), volcanic landforms (volcanoes,
caldeira, pyroclastic cones, lava tube) and two geo-botanical sites.
The results of this research have been summarised in a geomorphological
map, representing the various landscape units and the
geomorphosites, and comprises a proposal for the valorisation of
the geomorphological heritage by means of six itineraries. The
Map, constructed upon a Landsat ETM+ image, is completed
with some geological sketch maps and sections and several photographs
of the geomorphosites with their scientific explanation