INVESTIGADORES
LLAMES Maria Eugenia Del Rosario
capítulos de libros
Título:
Lakes and reservoirs of South America
Autor/es:
LLAMES, M.E.; ZAGARESE, H.E.
Libro:
Encyclopedia of Inland Waters
Editorial:
Elsevier
Referencias:
Lugar: New York; Año: 2009; p. 533 - 543
Resumen:
South America is a diverse continent in terms of geomorphology and climates, which in turn translates into a wide diversity of lake types. In addition, South America is located in a predominantly maritime hemisphere. As regards to the origin of lakes, at least seven different processes have played significant roles: 1) Tectonic activity, 2) Vulcanism, 3) Glacial activity, 4) Fluvial action, 5) Aeolic action, 6) Marine action and 7) Human activity. As most of these processes act on regional scales, morphologically similar lakes tend to be grouped in clusters (lake districts). Briefly, fluvial lakes characterize the interior lowlands of South America as well as Guiana and Brazilian Highlands while lagoon environments comprise approximately 12% of the coastal zone. In the Andes, the principal processes of significance to lacustrine development are glacial activity and tectonic-volcanic events. Aeolic lakes are the common type in the Pampa plain and the Patagonian plateau. The damming of streams is the most prominent human action responsible of the origin of lake basins throughout South America.