analysis of appropriate zones for ecotourism development in zanjan province using gis

geographical position, topographic conditions and climatic variety have caused the ‎province of zanjan to be known as the province of four seasons. its unique ‎ecological conditions, forest and pasture coverage, numerous water resources, ‎wildlife, several hunting zones, protected areas, caves, waterfalls, springs and tens of ‎other beautiful unique landscapes have caused this province to become one of the ‎two tourist poles in northwest of the country. in this study, by using geographic ‎information system, we have studied appropriate areas of potential ecotourism ‎activities such as mountaineering, hiking, winter sports and skiing, water sports and ‎fishing, nature therapy and ecotourism. therefore, required layers of information ‎were prepared including maps of the altitudes levels, slope, slope aspect, water levels ‎and rivers, mineral springs and vegetation. then, by combining and overlapping ‎information layers in gis environment using boolean models and ahp, appropriate ‎zones for ecotourism development in zanjan were specified. this study shows that ‎over 30 percent of the province area has the potential for various ecotourism ‎activities.‎