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Assessment and Selection of Geomorphosites and Trails in the Miage Glacier Area (Western Italian Alps)

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Abstract

Glacial environments are considered geomorphosites because they exhibit all of the features that characterise sites of geomorphological interest. The Miage Glacier, in particular, is the most important debris-covered glacier of the Italian Alps, and it has been extensively studied since the 18th century because of its scientific features. In this area, the geomorphological and geological attributes are evaluated at 11 sites that have been individuated along the three main touristic trails, which allow an exploration of the surroundings of the glacial tongue and its two main lobes. Using a methodology previously tested in a fluvial environment, single sites and trails are quantitatively assessed to determine the most suitable trail for educational purposes. Hazards that could potentially affect the trails are considered in terms of both risk education and final selection of the most suitable trails for the various possible user groups. The richness of scientific data in this area should increase its importance as a geomorphosite by increasing the educational value of the Miage Glacier and the Veny Valley.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to anonymous reviewers for suggestions that allowed to improve the manuscript. The Authors are also grateful to Dr. Valentina Garavaglia and Dr. Giovanni Leonelli for the scientific support.

Funding

The research was performed in the framework of the PRIN 2008 project “Climate change effects on glaciers, permafrost and derived water resource. Quantification of the ongoing variations in the Italian Alps, analysis of their impacts and modelling future projections” (National and local coordinator Prof. C. Smiraglia).

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  1. Universita degli Studi di Milano—Scienze della Terra A. Desio, Milan, Italy

    Irene Bollati, Claudio Smiraglia & Manuela Pelfini

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  1. Irene Bollati
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  2. Claudio Smiraglia
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  3. Manuela Pelfini
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Correspondence to Irene Bollati.

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Bollati, I., Smiraglia, C. & Pelfini, M. Assessment and Selection of Geomorphosites and Trails in the Miage Glacier Area (Western Italian Alps). Environmental Management 51, 951–967 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-012-9995-2

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