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Within Lubelskie province (SE Poland) are several regions notable for groups of landforms unique in Poland. In this paper, tourists' assessments of the geomorphological heritage of the region have been analysed. The most interesting sites, from both the scientific and touristic points of view and also proposed for the national list of geomorphosites, were chosen for the study. The evaluation by tourists was carried out by means of an Internet survey with 693 answers collected over 6 weeks. The sites visited most frequently by the respondents are loess gullies and river valleys with small waterfalls. The sites were mostly visited during car trips and as part of walking excursions during a long-term stay. The main motivation for visiting the surveyed sites was the aesthetic value of the landscape. The respondents sought information, mainly on the Web, about nature, culture and tourist attractions. The results of the survey indicate a need for further promotion of the geotouristic values of lesser-known sites in Lubelskie province and this will also enable tourism to be better managed.

Geotourism is a useful way to educate societies in the field of geomorphology and related natural hazards. Geosites, including geomorphosites, represent the basis for the development of this type of tourism. This study describes 12 representative gully regions within nine European countries. The characteristics of 42 permanent gullies, gully systems, and badland landscapes are presented. Based on scientific values of the sites, educational lessons to be learned were identified that are mainly related to (i) gullies as a geological window, (ii) present-day geomorphological processes and (iii) stages of historical gully erosion reflecting past human-environment interactions. To evaluate possible education activities, a geotouristic assessment of the studied gullies and badlands was made, based on scientific, educational, functional and touristic indicators. This assessment demonstrates a large difference between the selected gully and badland sites, particularly with regard to functional and tourist values. The geotouristic potential of gullies (badlands) is the highest in Italy and Spain and the lowest in Romania and Latvia. In some countries, permanent gullies are not regarded as geotouristic attractions at all, while in others, they constitute a significant element of their tourism development strategy. In our opinion, all activities must be part of a broader strategy for the development of geotourism in gully and badland regions, for example, gullies may be included as geosites within existing or planned geoparks.

Heavy metals are constantly emitted into the environment and pose a major threat to human health, particularly in urban areas. The threat is linked to the presence of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in street dust, which consists of mineral and organic particles originating from the soil, industrial emitters, motor vehicles, and fuel consumption. The study objective was to determine the level of street dust contamination with trace metals in Lublin and to indicate their potential sources of origin. The analyses were carried out with an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The sampling sites (49) were located within the city streets characterised by varying intensity of motor traffic. The following mean content values and their variation (SD) were determined:

The study examines water runoff and geomorphic processes within a permanent gully located in an agricultural catchment of the Lublin Upland, southeast Poland. The studies were conducted in the period 2003 to 2006, during which time the volume and intensity of precipitation were recorded and water runoff and sediment concentration at the outlet of the main gully were measured. After large surface runoff events that resulted in geomorphic effects, erosion and accumulation forms were examined. The role of snowmelt and heavy rains in the runoff of water and suspended solids from the catchment, as well as their effect on the dynamics of certain processes such as rill erosion, piping and accumulation within the gully all were evaluated. It was observed that the gully developed spatially through piping and headcut processes during snowmelt, while the main gully form became shallower as a result of accumulation processes. Headcut erosion at the gully bottom and transport of the material out of the catchment, predominantly during pluvial runoff events, were much less intensive. It was estimated that the intensity of snowmelt runoff in the years 2003 to 2006 was similar to the multi-annual average, while the intensity of pluvial runoff was signifi cantly lower. An attempt was made to describe the dynamics of gully erosion and the direction of gully system evolution on a medium-term time scale (50 to 100 years). It was found that the roles of snowmelt and heavy rains in such catchments are in opposition. Snowmelt runoff events lead to the spatial development of the gullies and make them shallower, while pluvial runoff events add to the deepening of the gully and result in transporting the material outward. These two processes keep the gully system in relative balance.