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Geodiversity influencing our cultural and built heritage
The local character of many buildings is strongly dependent on the local rocks used in their construction. The location of the settlements themselves is also often determined by landscape and soil properties. Transport routes, particularly in mountainous regions may be strongly dependent on the locations of valleys and passes. These in turn are often related to underlying geology, such as the presence of faults, and past geological processes including the movements of glaciers.
The diversity of our Scotland's rocks and landforms is the basis for most of our landscapes and scenery that are highly valued by visitors and the tourism industry. Geodiversity provides a basis for recreation: beaches for walking and swimming; rivers and lochs for fishing and boating; mountains, coasts and cliffs for walking and climbing; and fossils and minerals for those who enjoy collecting.
The diversity and beauty of the Scottish landscape, arising from its geological foundations, have also been a source of inspiration for art, sculpture, music and literature. In mid-18th century Scotland the iconography of landscape and geological features portrayed in contemporary literature and art was a significant factor in the development of tourism.
The economic and health benefits of the recreation and tourism industry, based on landscapes and scenery, are another important reason for valuing geodiversity. Through opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoyment of the natural world, and through local community involvement in geotourism, geodiversity contributes to sustainable economic development and confers public health benefits.