About project

The GeoSilesia is „The educational and informational website about geological and geomorphological heritage in the Silesian Voivodeship (Southern Poland)”.

The main goal of the website is to promote and disseminate information about Silesian inanimate nature objects, both immovable (in situ – natural and artificial outcrops, crags, caves and others) and movable (ex situ – specimens in museums: minerals, rocks, fossils and stones in buildings and equipment elements), as well as mining, metallurgical and hydrotechnical objects associated to the exploitation of various resources. All listed objects are our natural and cultural heritage what is connected with the protection of geo-diversity and the tourism development.

Especially valuable geological, geomorphological and industrial objects, which are relevant for understanding the history of the Earth, are called geosites. The information on geosites in Poland, located all over the country, is provided by the Central Register of Polish Geosites (CRGP).

Some geosites are, or may become after appropriate promotion and popularisation, an object of tourist interest, in other words, a geotouristic object. Geotouristic objects and phenomena have created the single category of geotouristic attractions. The connection of geotouristic attractions by specially organized and marked didactic paths allows to make visitors interested in the geological structure of the region.

Existing and potential geotouristic attractions of the Silesian Voivodeship are presented in the GeoSilesia on the interactive map (check homepage) in the following categories:

  • ikona kategorii atrakcji geoturystycznych

    geosites of national and regional significance (source: CRGP, access 31.12.2016);

  • ikona kategorii atrakcji geoturystycznych

    underground tourist routes available for tourists (mines, adits, caves);

  • ikona kategorii atrakcji geoturystycznych

    inanimate nature reserves and documentation sites that do not match in terms of geosites and underground routes;

  • ikona kategorii atrakcji geoturystycznych

    immovable objects of cultural heritage created on the basis of inanimate nature's values;

  • ikona kategorii atrakcji geoturystycznych

    museums, exhibitions and theme parks popularizing the knowledge and collections of field of geology and paleontology, history of mining, metallurgy and cement industry, processing of mineral resources and mining technology and culture;

  • ikona kategorii atrakcji geoturystycznych

    spas and health resorts using healing waters, mineral waters, salt springs and therapeutic mud (peats);

  • ikona kategorii atrakcji geoturystycznych

    thematic paths providing and promoting content related to the Earth heritage and industrial heritage;

  • ikona kategorii atrakcji geoturystycznych

    events promoting the Earth heritage and industrial heritage.

The author and editor: Ryszard Chybiorz / ryszard.chybiorz(at)us.edu.pl

Selected Literature

  • CHYBIORZ R. & KOWALSKA M. 2016.On-line geosites Poland. ProGEO news, 4: 7–8.
  • CHYBIORZ R. & KOWALSKA M. 2017.22Inventory and assessment of the attractiveness of geosites in the Silesian Voivodeship (southern Poland). Przegląd Geologiczny 65(6): 365–374 (in Polish and English summary).
  • TOKARSKA-GUZIK B., CHYBIORZ R., PARUSEL J.B. & FRĄCKOWIAK J. 2015.Results of studies of nature resources as a source of spatial data for a regional information system under the auspices of the BIOGEO-SILESIA ORSIP group. [in:] M. Nowak (eds.) Scientific, Technological and Legal Background of Creating Integrated Biotic Databases: 35–50. Adam Mickiewicz University Press, Seria Biologia nr 80, Poznań.