Examples of cliff instability along the Apulian coastlines

Abstract

Apulia (Southern Italy) is among the most important Italian regions in terms of shoreline extension. The coastline is heavily occupied by towns and resorts hosting an increasing number of tourists, attracted by the extreme beauty of the region, especially during the summer season. Many kilometers of coasts are characterized by moderately high to high cliffs, which surely are relevant touristic attractions, but also represent hazards in terms of mass movements. The rock cliff instability processes affect the whole Apulian coastal zone, from the Gargano Promontory to the Salento Peninsula. The degree of instabilities and potential risks have to be related to the unique geological and geomorphological framework of the sites, that include intense development of karst processes, combined to the presence of nearby infrastructures and urban areas. This contribution analyses various examples of cliff instability along the Apulian coastline highlighting as the differences in geology and geomorphology lead to different degrees of hazards.