The geodiversity of the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park (Central Italy)

Abstract

The Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park is located in the Central Apennines (Italy), in a vast mountainous area of about 1300 km 2 . It was founded in 1922, and it is renowned for conserving some of the most important Italian fauna species. Moreover, it is an international open-air laboratory for its geological-geomorphological heritage related to various paleogeographical and morphogenetic environments. Great geodiversity examples are still reflected today by the main mountain chains, offering scientists and tourists imaginary journeys through ancient coral atolls and deep blue seas. Valleys of glacial or fluvial origin, alluvial fans, paleolandslides, karst morphologies, and present-day landscapes still preserve the memory of these ancient environments. Here, we report on the methods, initiatives, and activities to improve and valorize Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park geodiversity. In detail, the enhancement of geoheritage has been widely pursued through a stepwise approach which involved (i) literature data analysis, (ii) census and harmonization of geosites and geomorphosites, (iii) design of thematic maps and visual legends, (iv) geological-geomorphological field surveys. The resulting data allowed