Urban occupation and anthropogeomorphological processes in Teresina, PI : considerations from the historical approach

Abstract

The use of the historical approach as a resource for understanding the interferences and anthropogeomorphological processes is an important strategy as a way of contributing to the changes that have taken place in a given place, depending on the chosen spatial scale and time frame adopted. In view of this, the present study aims, from a historical approach, to understand the relationship between urban occupation and anthropogeomorphological processes in Teresina (Piauí) since its foundation in 1852. Methodologically, a series of strategies were adopted that would enable the achievement of the proposed objective, both associated with historical documents and field activities, photographic records, use of social networks and classification of anthropogenic features (using the classification of the British Geological Survey). Changes in geomorphological characteristics accompany the urban history of Teresina since its foundation, considering that the choice of land was due precisely to the flat relief, in addition to the presence of the Parnaíba and Poti rivers, however, the terrain was not as flat as the planners thought. The existence of streams, ponds, small hills and low hills both in the area and in the surroundings, a fact that contributed to the difficulty of urban expansion in some vectors, triggering, from 1852 (plains and river terraces) to the current years (slopes and tops of hills), the existence of lands classified as made ground, worked ground, infilled ground and disturbed ground, in addition to canalization, plugging and grounding of streams and ponds, construction of dikes and diverse anthropogenic deposits, cuts and decharacterization of slopes, in addition to the existence of mine pits.