The littoral complex at the Paraná mouth

Abstract

The Paraná River reaches the Atlantic Ocean in a 300 km long and 80 km wide littoral complex. Most of its evolution occurred during the Holocene. The development of the delta comprises four phases: (1) A fluvial period represented by river flood deposits; (2) A marine ingression with development of a sand barrier, a lagoon, minor tributary deltas and estuaries and well-developed regression deposits; (3) An estuarine phase characterized by extensive tidal deposits in the central area; and (4) The present fluvial period, with channel deposits and deltaic deposits advancing into the Ŕo de la Plata. The present dynamics of the deltaic complex is dominated by the Paraná floods, the floods of the Uruguay and Gualeguay rivers, tides and floods produced by the southeast wind. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.