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Volcanic tourism

Lessons from Mt St Helens

Tourism to volcanic areas is growing. Here Jane Dove looks at why this is happening, and the issues it raises, in the context of Mt St Helens in the USA. What particular challenges are associated with tourism in areas of tectonic hazard? And how can tourism in such areas be sustainable?

View from the Johnston Ridge Observatory

Volcanic eruptions are a mixed blessing for the tourism industry. In 2010, ash from a volcanic eruption under the Eyjafjallajökull ice-cap in Iceland caused major air traffic disruption to western Europe. On the plus side, the publicity surrounding the eruption has encouraged greater numbers of tourists to come to Iceland’s volcanic landscapes.

Visits to volcanic and geothermal areas have increased in recent decades. This has raised concerns about tourist safety, interpretation and sustainable development of sites. There are also questions about the wisdom of investing in tourist facilities in hazardous areas.

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Global population change: the impact

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Megacities and urban change

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