5.2.1. Elements of The Natural Environment
The natural environment in itself has elements that attract nature tourism:
- Landscape: a permanent resource, variable according to the season
of the year and its appearance depending largely on the vegetation, hydrology and
human activity. It is the basic resource when planning a visit.
- Geology: a permanent resource that can be accessed from the viewpoint
of the modelling of the landscape by water, wind, glaciers, minerals, spectacular
formations, etc.
- Fauna: a resource that is in part seasonal and in part permanent,
depending on the species; therefore, it is fundamental to know them, as well as
to have a very clear idea of the necessary conservation of the resource and how
to avoid endangering it.
- Vegetation: a resource that strongly marks the personality of the
landscape, depending on the seasons. Particularly noteworthy are the endemic species
that are found in a place on occasions: species or taxons whose geographical location
is restricted to a very specific zone, not being found outside it. The geographical
extension may be very variable, from a specific population to a province, a country,
etc.
- Water resources: rivers, lakes, reservoirs. Elements of the hydrographical
network that contribute value to natural environment, modifying life (flora and
fauna) in its surrounding area.
- Points of scientific interest. Enclaves with specific characteristics
that are of special interest for the scientific world.
