Natural Landscapes Along Brazilian Coastline

Abstract

The Brazilian coastline extends from 8500 km from Northern Hemisphere 4° to the 34° in South Latitude, covering different natural landscapes. By landscapes, we understand the relationship between geomorphological and geological conditions and vegetation cover, and process involving climate and oceanography that shape the landscapes. This chapter presents a synthesis or an overview of different landscape patterns observed along the Brazilian coastline. Using this simple approach, we regionalized five different segments where we observe common landscape characteristics. The first two segments (northern and northeastern) is part of Caraíba alignment, i.e., NNE to SSW alignment. Three others refer to Brasiliana direction, where the coastline assumes predominant NNE to SSW pattern. The northern segment is classified as tidal flats in association of several estuaries, covered by mangroves in an equatorial zone and extended from Cape Orange to São Marcos Bay. Coastal dunes and Neogene predominant rocky coasts, with savannas distributed in the semiarid zone, are classified as northeastern landscape domain. This second segment marks the landscapes individualized from São Marcos Bay to Cape Calcanhar. The inflection to the S/SE direction, from Cabo Calcanhar to Cape Frio, the eastern coastline is marked by Neogene rocky coasts and wave-dominated deltas covered by Atlantic rainforest, along the tropical zone. It is important to mention that series of coral reefs disperse close to the coastline. From Cape Frio to Cape Santa Marta, the southeastern region is defined by granitic and gneisses rocky coast, and narrow coastal plains, covered by Atlantic rainforests, in the tropical zone. The last segment, in the southern part of Brazil, is characterized by Quaternary plains formed by coastal sandy barriers and lagoons with Restingas vegetation, distributed in tempered climate condition. At the end of this chapter, we present some information regarding oceanic volcanic islands as part of Brazilian territory, showing predominant landscapes vary from shore platforms and beaches formed by carbonate materials and siliciclastic sediments. Along each segment, we mention some problems regarding coastal erosion and other typical problems associated with pressure of socioeconomic activities.