Objective:

Evaluate and assess sites of geological interest by proposing tourist georoutes associated with karst geoforms (sinkholes) and then propose them in the Global Geosites project of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). Recommend future studies on the exokarst theme since it is very scarce and this would contribute to a better tourist development in the Malargüe department.

Methodology:

The methodology applied here was approached from the study of the karst geoforms through an exhaustive work of interpretation of satellite images and subsequent campaign control. In addition, an assessment is developed based on previous work (Panizza and Piacente 1993, Reynard et al., 2007, Pereira et al., 2007, Zouros 2007, Coratza, P., et al., 2012) and is based on three sets of values: Scientific Value, Additional Value and Use Value.

Results:

The sinkhole Nº6 (Laguna de la Niña Encantada) is the one that obtained the highest total score, being almost perfect; with maximum ratings on almost all criteria.

Conclusions:

The data obtained from the assessment suggests that the first proposed georoute, located to the north of the study area, comprised of sinkholes 1 to 7, is the most favorable for the determination of geosites. The highest evaluation of this georoute was 9 points, Laguna de la Niña Encantada, being almost perfect in all the classification criteria.

Financing:

Department of Geology, National University of San Juan.