Mountainous landscapes and natural hazards. The case of San Martín De Los Andes, Neuquén
The city of San Martín de los Andes located in the Lacar department of Neuquén province, has experienced significant population growth over the last two decades. This growth has led to the scattered expansion of urban areas, resulting in the establishment of neighborhoods and settlements in areas pr...
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| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | Artículo revista |
| Lenguaje: | Español |
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Departamento de Geografía. Facultad de Humanidades. Universidad Nacional del Comahue
2024
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| Acceso en línea: | https://revele.uncoma.edu.ar/index.php/geografia/article/view/5209 |
| Aporte de: |
| Sumario: | The city of San Martín de los Andes located in the Lacar department of Neuquén province, has experienced significant population growth over the last two decades. This growth has led to the scattered expansion of urban areas, resulting in the establishment of neighborhoods and settlements in areas prone to natural hazards.
The objective of this study is to analyze the dynamics of the natural system by examining various variables (geology, geomorphology, vegetation, hydrography, soils, slopes, land use) to define landscape units. Subsequently, a survey of natural events from the past few decades that caused damage to people or infrastructure was conducted using web media. This made it possible to identify the most critical areas for population, which were later corroborated through fieldwork.
The most hazardous landscape units were found to be those dominated by rocky outcrops and steep slopes composed of colluvial materials from weathering processes. The most frequent events detected were landslides, such as rock falls, debris flows and snow avalanches. The areas with the greatest impact are located on the slopes of the Curruhuinca, Comandante Díaz and Cordón Chapelco hills, due to the high exposure of infrastructure and population. Avalanches are primarily associated with winter activities. Additionally, it is important to note issues derived from flooding and waterlogging that mainly affect neighborhoods located in the Vega Maipú area, as well as part of the historic urban center, where Pocahullo stream overflows. The analysis demonstrated that defining landscape units and recognizing natural hazards provides a crucial foundation for mitigating and preventing risk situations. |
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