Abstract ID: 3.11467 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Vinicunca, also known as Rainbow Mountain, is one of the newest tourist attractions in the Peruvian province of Quispicanchi. Despite its high altitude, with the summit exceeding 5,000 meters above sea level, the mountain has become a popular destination for national and international visitors. This study assesses the changes in the landscape and the response of local communities to the increasing number of tourists. We mapped and documented the geomorphological impacts resulting from the initial development of trails and the subsequent high-intensity tourist activity. The primary goals of the study were to: (1) identify and map impacts associated with direct visitor pressure; (2) document and assess activities designed to reduce degradation while improving the visitor experience; and (3) propose a model that illustrates how trails function in tropical high-mountain environments. Data were collected through ground-based geomorphological mapping, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) surveys, and analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery. We identified eight key morphogenetic processes that contribute to landscape degradation: (1) trampling and (2) abrasion/shearing caused by visitors and service animals, and (3) the alteration of water and sediment circulation. These direct human activities can initiate or enhance further degradation through natural processes, including: (4) water erosion, (5) freeze-thaw cycles, (6) dry-wet cycles, (7) aeolian activities, and (8) mass movements. The five main trail impacts were: trail widening, trail incision, the formation of braided trail networks, the development of muddy sections, and the creation of informal (visitor-created) trails. These impacts have left a noticeable mark on the landscape after just 1-2 seasons of intensive recreational use. This high-mountain environment is fragile and does not recover quickly and the rapid increase in visitors has caused severe landscape degradation. Recovery from this damage could take several decades. The research was funded by the Polish National Science Centre, Poland – Project number 2021/43/B/ST10/00950