The study of geotourism and ecotourism attractions of Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf, Iran

Qeshm Island is the largest island in the Persian Gulf, similar to a dolphin in shape. The island is located at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz in Hormuzgan Province, Iran. The Island is dolphin-shaped, and most of the outcrops include sedimentary rocks. Qeshm is one of the most beautiful Islands of the Persian Gulf and due to its special geographic location has many beautiful natural and geological phenomena. Qeshm Island has a variety of cultural, handiworks, and local architecture as well as geological diversity. The geological formations of this belt may range from the late Precambrian to Cambrian in age and include diapirs called the Hormuz Series. Most of the mature salt diapirs formed in the Qeshm and the longest salt cave was created in the west of the island in a series of Hormuz Formation. The main geotourism attractions of the island include different forms resulting from erosion, as well as very attractive geomorphologic structures such as Star Valley, Khorbas Cave, Mangrove forest, Roof of Qeshm, and Chah-Kuh Gorge, Salt Cave, coral reefs, etc. Most of the landscapes are the product of wind and water erosion. Qeshm Island is one of the numerous places in Iran rich in many geologic, ecologic, cultural, and historic attractions and unique for geotourism and ecotourism. In addition to the geological and natural attractions of the region, the ancient and cultural features are included in the potential of the island’s tourism attraction. This study introduces geotourism attractions in Qeshm Island.