The colônia impact crater: Geological heritage and natural patrimony in the southern metropolitan region of são paulo, brazil

Abstract

The Parelheiros district, located at the extreme southern end of the São Paulo metropolitan region, is historically famous for the occurrence of an unusual circular depression, denominated in the geological literature as Colônia Crater. This prominent geomorphological structure, with a 3.6-km diameter, formed by impact cratering, represents one of the few records of a violent and devastating geological process that shaped the Earth’s surface in the past. The crater lies within an environmental protection area and displays a remarkable landscape, as well as a rich and singular fauna and flora. With a wide geological and biological diversity, the Colônia impact crater is an extraordinary natural heritage and must be rigorously preserved to: (a) conserve its exceptional natural wealth in order to provide continuity to various scientific researches, (b) implement suitable land use and occupation programmes to maintain the crater as an environmental preservation area and (c) encourage the local community’s participation in the development of sustainable tourism in the region.