4.1. Website
The modern, responsive and fully interactive official website of Nisyros Geopark
www.nisyrosgeopark.gr (accessed on 25 January 2023) constitutes one of the main digital communication tools of high quality and design, providing users with all of the initial information they need to be introduced to its various aspects and help them plan their visit (
Figure 8 and
Figure 9). The website is currently available in English, while its translations into Greek and other significantly spoken European and Asian languages are under progress and/or consideration. The Home section is the first level of communication (landing page) with the web visitor to the Nisyros Geopark. It showcases the main components of the website’s structure, which include the header with the linked subpages to further content, the main body depicting brief information about the Geopark as well as the footer that displays useful information for visitors. Upon official recognition of Nisyros as a UGGp, this level will be the most important in terms of information architecture, since it will essentially consist of live (daily updated) feeds/actions of the Geopark through dedicated sub-areas where the Geopark’s “Latest News”, the Geopark’s actions (Events) and various announcements will be hosted. These areas will provide rich informational material in a chronological order that will follow suit with the Geopark’s work/actions and progress through time.
The “Nisyros” section brings the visitor into contact with the island of Nisyros through the following subsections: (a) Mythology, (b) History, (c) Nisyrian People, (d) Customs and Traditions, (e) Nisyrian Villages, (f) Museums and (g) Sights. It starts with the mythological context about the creation of the region (Giantomachy, in ‘Mythology’), followed by the presentation of the long history of Nisyros with rich informational material (‘History’). The ‘Nisyrian People’ section provides important information about the modern history, folklore, customs and traditions of the island, with the aim of highlighting the unique intellectual wealth of Nisyros, as well as the work of important Nisyrians. The ‘Customs and Traditions’ section presents information material on the customs and traditions of Nisyros, the remarkable architecture of the island, the folk culture and the various cultural events of the island. The remaining three sections provide brief descriptions on the island’s four main villages, the different museums available for exploration as well as other important geological, natural and cultural sites around the Geopark.
The section “Nisyros Geopark” introduces the visitor to the concept of the Geopark, which is directly linked to the geocultural environment of the island complex of Nisyros and the surrounding islets. Its subsections are: (a) Location, (b) Islets Complex, (c) Geomorphology, (d) Volcanism and (e) Biodiversity. The subsection ‘Location’ includes the clear geographical positioning of Nisyros Geopark in Greece, while the subsection ‘Islets Complex’ provides a brief description of the physical and anthropogeographical characteristics of both Nisyros and the individual islets that make up the Geopark. The subsection ‘Geomorphology’ lists the physiographic and morphotectonic features that make up the volcanic environment of the Geopark. In the subsection “Volcanism”, the visitor can get in touch with the rich geological history of the area. Finally, the subsection ‘Biodiversity’ provides useful information on the flora and fauna of the island complex of the Geopark, which thrive due to the fertile soils of volcanic origin and feature scarcity and interesting geographical spread.
The “Geosites” section highlights the 24 designated geosites of the Geopark, providing all the important scientific information accompanied by visual material to the public. It is linked to the last section, “Interactive Map”, that presents the 10 proposed georoutes of the geopark while focusing on the interactive experience of the users through the interactive map that displays all the points of interest concerning the geological heritage. It consists of the sub-sections: (a) Geosites, (b) Georoutes and (c) Travels and tours. The subsections ‘Geosites’ and ‘Georoutes’ provide visitors with the opportunity to navigate the walking routes of the Geopark, with emphasis mainly on the island of Nisyros, through easy-to-use and user-friendly interactive maps with text, photos, video and sound. The subsection ‘Travels and tours’ will further diversify the website’s content in the future, by including interactive material concerning the other islets of the Geopark, so that visitors will have the opportunity to tour this remote region of the Geopark, currently inaccessible to direct visits.
4.2. Nisyros Volcano App
The Geopark’s first educational mobile application, named ‘Nisyros Volcano App’, is a free, offline and easy to use virtual guide focusing on the area of Lakki within the central caldera of Nisyros Volcano (
Figure 10). This area was primarily selected due to its international geological significance, as it is located within the youngest volcanic caldera of the South Aegean Volcanic Arc and is a representative example of an onshore active hydrothermal field [
31]. It comprises the eastern part of the caldera’s bottom, having a very smooth relief and featuring a number of active hydrothermal craters and lots of fumaroles. One of the craters, Stefanos, is the main touristic highlight of Nisyros Geopark and is one of the largest of its kind in the world [
44].
The app features an easy-to-navigate interface (main page) immediately accessed after the opening page once users hit ‘Enter’. All the information provided by the app consists of plain language text descriptions, high resolution photos, figures and videos, interactive 2D and 3D maps as well as 360° panoramas. It is organized into three main informational levels, each one of which represents a set of subunits on the interface.Users can easily swipe from one level to another, to find different subunits corresponding to the type of information they want to access (
Figure 11). On the upper right side of the main page is a hamburger menu providing instant access to all the subunits of the app, while two buttons were more recently added to provide access to the smartphone’s camera, giving the ability to scan the different QR codes used at the Geopark’s services. As with the website, the app is currently available in English, while its translations into Greek and other significantly spoken European and Asian languages are under progress and/or consideration.
The first informational level consists of six subunits. The first subunit is named ‘About Nisyros Island’ and provides a first, brief but efficient introduction to the geological and cultural environment of the island. It presents the geographic and geodynamic position of the island, describes the main types of geological and geomorphological features that make it unique and links its volcanic history to the rich ancient Greek mythology, which had already attempted to geo-interpret the active volcano’s behavior. Preceding the text is a simplified interactive map of Nisyros that features five important points of interest, which are the four settlements of the island: Mandraki, the capital and main port, Pali, Emborios and Nikia, as well as the Lakki Hydrothermal Field. Users can touch each one of those points to access a page that provides additional information regarding not only the settlements themselves, but also other significant archeological, cultural or even spiritual points of interest nearby. The descriptions are accompanied by a dedicated image gallery, through which users can admire high resolution photos of a given point of interest, complete with plain language captions.
The second subunit is named ‘Hellenic Volcanic Arc’ and its information provides the first step in understanding the general geodynamic regime in which volcanism at Nisyros occurred. It gives a plain language explanation of the complex geotectonic processes that have shaped the southeastern region of the Aegean Sea for the past millions of years and gives additional details about the other volcanic centers that comprise the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, along with a simple, static map showing their location. By placing the Geopark’s geological highlights in a broader context that also includes other well-known islands in the Aegean, like Santorini and Milos, its outstanding geological heritage can be made easier to understand, and thus, noticed and admired. It is important to note that the informative text here, and also in other subunits of the app, is presented as both a short and a long version. The short version gives an efficient description of the most important information on each topic, while the long version takes this a step further, by providing additional details for visitors who have more time in the area or who want to explore more later at home. The short version is not cut in half, with the remaining text in the longer version, but instead is a complete paragraph itself. To access the longer version, users must touch the ’more’ button.
The third subunit is named ‘Lakki Hydrothermal Field’ and specifies the geological processes that power one of the most impressive such fields for the past 24,000 years. It describes what a hydrothermal crater is and how it can form, while providing a comprehensive graphic timeline of the history of the hydrothermal craters over the years. The goal of this subunit is not only to scientifically describe the hydrothermal field, but also help users realize the important difference between the type of eruption that formed the impressive craters and the volcanic eruptions of Nisyros in general. The timeline also aims to give an age context of the craters, thus proving the undoubtable bond that connects volcanism with the local communities of Nisyros, who both struggled and were benefited throughout the island’s history.
The fourth subunit is named ‘Volcanic Evolution’ and is one of the most important throughout the app. It describes the six eruptive cycles that gradually built Nisyros over the past 160,000 years, from mild underwater volcanic activity to a composite stratovolcano that produced voluminous eruptions and eventually formed the edifice seen today [
33]. The successive eruptive cycles of Nisyros are individually presented at the end of the subunit, in a form of a timeline that consists of the title of each cycle, a short text description and a high-quality Digital Elevation Model of Nisyros island, highlighting the areas covered by each volcanic cycle’s eruptive products. This way visitors are provided with a first means of geo-interpretation for the entire island, as the information can be used to start describing the different volcanic products of Nisyros, regardless of the app’s main focus on Lakki hydrothermal field.
The fifth subunit is the Lakki Hydrothermal Field ‘Area Map’, and the core of the mobile application. It is a virtual guide that gives the opportunity of exploring the three designated points of interest within Lakki, by providing a comprehensive 2D and 3D map of the area. At the beginning, an informative text gives general directions on the accessibility and safety of Lakki, and presents the three points of interest (Stefanos Crater, Lofos Hydrothermal Area and Polyvotis Craters). By exploring the map, users will then find a 2D map of the Lakki area, that includes the location of the craters along with their official names, the main asphalt road that leads to Lakki, the three points of interest and the walking trails that connect them. While in the area, the user’s location is also visible in real-time, without the need for an internet connection. This further improves the accessibility to the points of interest, as it can be combined with the informative panels and directions directly found on site. A complete legend of the map can be activated or hidden by touching the button to the right of the 2D mode (
Figure 12). The button to the right of the Legend activated 3D mode. Again, visible are the main asphalt road, part of the broader ‘Caldera—Lakki’ route (one of the ten official georoutes of Nisyros Geopark), the walking trail and the points of interest. This time, the identification of the geosites is easier due to the use of a satellite image background for the map. The final button to the right activates the elevation of the walking trail. It is a useful addition for the app, because it can help plan an excursion at the area by providing the changes in elevation, giving visitors an expected level of difficulty for the georoute. All the points of interest both on the 2D and the 3D maps are interactive and connect to the next subunit.
The sixth and final subunit of the first informative level is the ‘Points of Interest’ table. It provides detailed information about the geology of the three designated points of interest (geosites) within Lakki, which are Stefanos, the larger hydrothermal crater at the bottom of which visitors can walk, Lofos Hydrothermal area and the Polyvotis Craters. It complements the descriptions with a collection of impressive photos from each of the geosites.
The second informative level consists of another six subunits (seven to twelve). The seventh subunit is the ‘Geo Dictionary’. It is an A–Z dictionary that explains complex but important terms used throughout the informative texts of the mobile application, including not only geological, but also other terms as well. The goal of the dictionary is to ensure that users will make the most out of the educational purposes of the app, even when it is impossible to avoid the use of scientific words that a non-specialist audience may not be familiar with. For this reason, the Geo Dictionary can also be accessed by touching underlined terms found within the text of other subunits throughout the app. Doing so will instantly bring the user to the term’s description within the dictionary. It also simplifies additional geologic terms that may be encountered during a visit at the Geopark or in general. The enrichment of the application by adding this dictionary was considered a necessity, primarily due to the lack of such easy-to-use explanatory means by other Geoparks.
The eighth subunit is the ‘Photo Gallery’ of the app. It includes the best of the high-resolution images used throughout the app, both from the Lakki area and the rest of Nisyros Geopark. The layout of the gallery is such that users are aware of all the photos they have already seen (a green check mark appears on the upper right of the photo). They can also select their favorites, by activating the heart icon on the upper right of the photo, and then accordingly short all the images, on the ‘Short by’ button. Upon selection of an image, the rest appears at the bottom of the interface, providing instant access. All photos are accompanied by a title and a short explanatory caption (
Figure 13).
The ninth subunit is the ‘Video Gallery’ of the mobile application. It includes four high resolution aerial videos filmed by the Geopark’s cooperation colleagues by using photography UAVs. The videos present stunning high-altitude views of the hydrothermal field, aerial views of Stefanos and the degassing fumaroles found at its interior, as well as a flight within Megalos Polyvotis crater. Users can play, pause and select a different time marker at any given moment when viewing the videos.
Another spectacular addition to the mobile application is the tenth subunit, the ‘360 panoramas’. It includes three high resolution UAV panoramas that can be interactively explored at all directions, giving the idea of flying above Nisyros. Views are provided for Lakki, the Polyvotis craters and the caldera of Nisyros, above the Nikia settlement.
Complying with the regulations of UNESCO regarding safety and geoconservation, the eleventh subunit of the app presents the ‘Safety Tips’ of Nisyros Geopark. It is a comprehensive catalog of 12 points that include rules and suggestions for the safety of visitors, as the area is an active volcano, and also for the protection of geological and natural heritage.
Finally, the twelfth subunit ‘About this app’ provides a brief explanation of the purposes of the mobile application, its connection to the official website of Nisyros Geopark and its availability.
The third and last informative level of the app consists of the remaining three subunits. ‘Useful Info’ describes the operational framework of Nisyros Geopark and provides useful links, phone numbers, social media and websites for the Municipality of Nisyros, Nisyros DIKEN and Nisyros Geopark. ‘App credits’ includes credits to the scientific and technical team that gathered the informative material, the photos and videos, wrote the texts and developed the mobile application (
Figure 14). It also includes selected references and papers that helped with the scientific aspect of the texts. Finally, the ‘Exit Application’ subunit allows for instant deactivation of the app.
4.3. Leaflet
The purpose of the new informative leaflet of Nisyros Geopark is to further complement the services provided by the ‘Nisyros Volcano App’, once again regarding the Lakki hydrothermal area. It includes brief sections of the main information that is also presented within the app, while focusing on the area’s 2D and 3D maps. Thus, an alternative, more traditional way of navigating through Lakki is provided, allowing for full accessibility of the region for locals and tourists that do not have the means or simply do not want to download and install the mobile application.
Each foldable level of the leaflet presents, step by step, the geological frame and history of Nisyros, starting with the general geodynamic setting and eventually focusing on the three points of interest at Lakki. The first foldable level includes a brief introduction to the Lakki hydrothermal field of Nisyros, along with the Geopark’s logo and the official website on the front side. On the rear side, it features 11 simple but significant pieces of safety information, as determined by the scientific team that studied the volcanic landscape and visited all the included touristic spots within Lakki during all seasons. It is very important for these ‘Safety Tips’ to be the easiest to access; thus, they are included both within the mobile application and the very first foldable level of the leaflet.
The second foldable level focuses on the South Aegean Volcanic Arc (or the Hellenic Volcanic Arc), presenting a brief description of its geodynamic setting, history and the location of Nisyros Geopark within it. It also provides an over simplified map of southern Greece, highlighting the location of the other volcanic fields that belong to the arc, as well as the boundary along which the subduction of the African plate beneath the Eurasian plate takes place.
The third foldable level presents the six successive eruptive cycles of the volcano. It includes a brief description regarding the scientific methods that contributed to deciphering the volcanic evolution of Nisyros, and then showcases six detailed geologic maps with the land cover of each cycle’s volcanic products, gradually forming the modern-day landscape of the island. It is therefore made clear to the reader that Nisyros is an entirely volcanic island and traces of its violent past can be found all along its region. It is also the first time that the most up to date volcanic evolution maps of Nisyros are used on an informative leaflet. This level provides a fine example of how the leaflet can be used along with the digital products; a visitor can gain instant insight into the volcanic cycles of Nisyros and then proceed to find out more within the mobile application, and even further at the Geopark’s website.
The fourth foldable level presents the Lakki area’s 3D map, an inclined satellite view with the main road to the hydrothermal craters highlighted (a road that is also part of the broader ‘Caldera—Lakki’ route, one of the ten official georoutes of Nisyros Geopark). It is a static, paper version of the map presented within the mobile application. Alongside the map, brief information and high-resolution aerial imagery of the points of interest are provided. The level also includes the elevation profile that illustrates the topography along the section of the ‘Caldera-Lakki’ route and the paths, while highlighting the location of the three points of interest.
Finally, the fifth foldable level is the full, unfolded extent of the leaflet with total paper dimensions of A2 (42 × 59.4 cm—
Figure 15). It presents the Lakki area’s 2D map, based on a detailed digital elevation model. It includes the main road to the hydrothermal craters and other secondary parts of the road network, the location of the main such craters within Lakki, the three points of interest as well as the trail that connects them. Detailed altitude information is also provided (easy to discern contour lines) as well as the names and the peaks of the lava domes that fill the western part of the caldera and dominate the views above Lakki. An index map to the left of the unfolded poster showcases the entire area with the five distinctive islands that compose the landscape of Nisyros Geopark, while the Geopark’s website and mobile application are accessible via the provided QR code.
4.4. Guidebook
To successfully approach the closer (local communities) and wider (visitors) social environments of the Geopark, its scientific team decided to create a socially appealing, informative guidebook with the aim of scientific education and the rise of environmental consciousness. The guidebook condenses all available important information, regarding every aspect of Nisyros Geopark related to geology, archaeology, culture, activities, educational events, biodiversity and natural disasters.
The guidebook is titled ‘The Nisyros Geopark Guidebook’ and is a small, paper book of A5 dimension, with a durable cover and a total of 64 pages, written in English language with the aim of future translations in Greek and other widely used European and Asian languages.
The information presented by the guidebook is rendered through short, synoptic texts written in plain language. In this way, scientific content becomes easier and more pleasing to understand by audiences of all ages. Texts are accompanied by maps, diagrams, brief tables and rich photographic material, while instant access to the digital products is thoroughly provided via QR codes and links to the website and the Geopark’s social media accounts. The final product provides a traditional and artistic opportunity for easy reading, transport and use by visitors and locals alike, providing information that can be decisive even for planning a trip to Nisyros.
At the beginning is the special thanks section and the link to the Geopark’s social media. Then, readers encounter a general touristic map of Nisyros featuring the settlements, the location of the geosites and the georoutes. The map covers both pages of that particular section, to allow for a convenient use. Following are two pages that host the map’s legend and a geotouristic index map of the entire Nisyros Geopark, also showcasing its general geographic position (
Figure 16).
The main content of the guidebook then starts, with general information on the geodynamic context that gave birth to volcanism in the area, the mythological background established for millennia by the island’s first inhabitants as well as a brief description of the history and culture of Nisyros, from past centuries to present.
What follows is the detailed presentation and description of the 24 official geosites of Nisyros Geopark. For each geosite, representative photographic material is provided along with highlighted geological, geoenvironmental and other useful information. All of the above are accompanied by special QR codes that link readers to each geosite’s dedicated page on the Geopark’s website, after being scanned by a smart mobile device (
Figure 17). The section of the geosites descriptions is followed by the presentation of cultural and archaeological points of interest (museums, archaeological spaces). Then follow the main safety and function rules and regulations of Nisyros Geopark (Code of Conduct—Safety Tips). The appearance of the safety tips here, as well as in the mobile application and the leaflet, is necessary for the even management of the Geopark and, mainly, for the personal safety of all its visitors.
The following section of the guidebook offers a detailed presentation of the 10 georoutes of the geopark, having a similar structure to the geosites section. Again, it is accompanied by maps, photographs and also more useful information regarding the length of each georoute, the approximate traverse time, the difficulty level and the type of points of interest to be encountered along the way. This section also features QR codes that provide access to the website, where users can also search and use the digital interactive map of the Geopark, along with the guidebook. Following the georoutes description is a section dedicated to the Geopark’s unique and rich biodiversity.
The final section of the guidebook consists of the Geoscientific dictionary, a concept realized by the Geopark’s scientific team that is also present within the mobile application (
Figure 18). Its goal is the simple and efficient clarification of unknown and sometimes complex scientific terms that are used throughout the guidebook. This is the same as in the mobile application, but now accessible even through this traditional means of information dissemination, readers can search for a hard-to-understand term and gain more relative insight. What is an extra addition to the guidebook, not found in the mobile application, is an easy-to-use Nisyros rock type identification guide, following the dictionary. It can be used by people of all ages and has a primarily educational character, allowing for an easy identification of the basic igneous rock types found at the Geopark under the concept of a game.
4.5. Panels—Signs
A total of three geotouristic informative panoramas (panels) have been installed at the Lakki hydrothermal field, to the area’s three points of interest. The panoramas, which share the same design pattern, include high-definition representative photos of each of the points of interest, a short text description of their main geological highlight, their location within the elevation model of the route and a schematic timeline of events related to the activity of the hydrothermal system. They also include a QR code that links to the website, so that visitors can instantly gain access to more information about these important geosites. The panoramas are installed on an inclined, table-like mount of durable wood and placed on areas that do not prevent complete and unobscured observation of each geosite. A large geotouristic map of Nisyros island has also been installed at the main port of Mandraki, welcoming visitors and providing the first useful directions to the Geopark’s geosites, georoutes and other points of interest.
Apart from Lakki, twelve additional informative signs have been installed to the rest of the geosites, ten with dimensions of 60 × 40 cm and two with dimensions of 70 × 90 cm. Each of the signs consists of two different sections regarding the information provided for each of the geosites, written in both English and Greek. The first section is always about the geology of the geosites and the second is about other topics related to the geosite or its direct natural environment, such as biodiversity and cultural or religious significance. High resolution photos along with detailed captions are provided on every sign, showcasing other important places of interest directly related to the geosites. At the right side of each sign, a geotouristic map section is present showcasing the location of the current and neighboring geosites as well as georoutes, archaeological sites, churches, monasteries and other interesting places in the proximity. The final section of each sign contains the most significant rules from the Geopark’s Code of Conduct, regarding the respect and protection of the natural environment. It also includes useful information on the management body and a QR code linking to each geosite’s dedicated page on the Nisyros Geopark website (
Figure 19).
In order to ensure the safety of the Geopark’s local communities and visitors, the installation of special safety signage regarding areas that are prone to landslides was considered a priority, not only to the proximity of the geosites, but also to other locations along the island’s road network, where the risk of a landslide is higher. Landslides at Nisyros are common and this is primarily due to the combination of the island’s steep morphology with the successive alternation of volcanic lithologies, each with a different degree of erosion. Especially during the autumn and winter seasons, extreme and sudden weather phenomena can produce significant landslide events.