'Coastal AP a prospective geological tourism hub'

VISAKHAPATNAM: The name Yellowstone National Park in geography textbooks at school may have fascinated many. Located in Wyoming State of USA, the world's first national park is a treasure trove of innumerable geographical, geological and geothermal features such as volcano, geysers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons, rivers, rock formations and so on -- all in a natural ecosystem comprising a plethora of flora and fauna.The park is one of the major tourist attractions of USA, especially for nature lovers.
But how many know that Visakhapatnam and its adjacent districts house nearly a dozen geological wonders? These include the nearly 12,000 years old Red Sand Hills or Erra Matti Dibbalu on the Vizag-Bheemili Beach Road, the Wave Cut Platforms or Natural Rock Bridges on the Rushikonda-Bheemili beach stretch, Serpent-hood-like structures at Gangavaram and Balacheruvu dating back to the Holocene era when the sea levels were much higher, the Borra Caves, beach minerals and so on. Except perhaps for Borra Caves near Araku, which house pre-Cambrian era limestone structures of stalactites and stalagmites resembling mythological figures and animals, most people are unaware of the other natural wonders as the concept of geo-tourism has not been explored and some of these sites are fast disappearing due to neglect and lack of conservation.
Besides the geological structures found in Vizag district, there are some other rocks of considerable archaeological value such as the Megalithic Dolmens (Stonehenge like structures) in Srikakulam, which are facing the threat of extinction due to construction activity in their vicinity. The sea beaches of the region too abound in various rare minerals like ilmenite, garnet, sillimanite, zircon, rutile, monazite (thorium ore). While the Tekkali area of Srikakulam has blue granite, the sand dunes of Bheemunipatnam, Srikakulam, and Kakinada are rich in ilmenite (titanium ore).
According to geological and environmental experts, promoting these sites in the right manner can not only attract tourists and help generate revenues for the government but also for conservation of these sites. "Some of the sites are scattered, yet quite accessible. All they require is qualified guides with knowledge of geology and geography to explain the various natural features to tourists that would whet their interest," said an expert.
With efforts on to develop Vizag and other AP cities on the Singapore model, Andhra University environmental sciences faculty member Prof Uday Bhaskar Reddy said, "Visakhapatnam and coastal AP have a richer biodiversity than Singapore. But the small country knows how to market its tourism spots and draw tourists from all over the world. Vizag has a rich eco-system comprising seas, hills, valleys, forests, wetlands, sandy and rocky zones, caves and the coastal belt, that are made of different types of soil. Such a place is ideal for development of geological tourism and has a great potential if the government takes interest. This will also help conserve the sites."
With Vizag and its surroundings housing Pre-Cambrian era rocks dating back nearly 3,000 million years -- the most common ones being Khondalites (Kailasagiri Hill is made of this rock), Charnockite, Leptynite and Quartzite, geology and environment experts also call for augmenting the attraction of interesting geological sites by setting up a rock garden or rock museum with scientific background information about the natural exhibits somewhere on the Vizag-Bheemili stretch to educate visitors and bring in some revenue for the government.
Elaborating on the Rock Park concept, Prof P Jagannadha Rao of AU's geology department, said, "The park can exhibit not just the locally available rocks but samples of all geologically important rocks from across the country. Fossils, mineral ores and processed minerals can also be displayed. With the help of oil companies that are engaged in extracting oil from the Krishna-Godavari basin, models showcasing onshore and offshore oil occurrences and their extraction can also be installed."
"The Rock Park can be an eco-friendly, no-plastic zone where solar energy and battery-operated cars can be used to ferry tourists. A souvenir shop can also be put up in the park. All these measures would draw tourists as well as school and college students for excursion and can generate income for the government as well. Within the geo-tourism package, some abandoned commercial ships in the waters can be converted into a restaurant, where tourists can be ferried in a boat," Prof Rao added, pointing out that if the provided the land, the geology department was willing to put up the park with the help of the Geological Survey of India.