Geodiversity as part of Heritage Rivers: The Example of São Francisco, River of National Unity – Along the Stretch its River Source to the Cascad’Anta Waterfall

Abstract

Rivers are key parts of geodiversity and have special proximity with society. Hence, river heritage is characterized by uncommon rivers with singular aspects of geodiversity, historical and cultural values, ecological and landscape elements of high scenic quality. In such context, the present study aimed to identify the set of elements or places of interest which could be used to recognize river heritage based on geodiversity values along a 17 km stretch between São Francisco river headwaters and the Casca d’Anta waterfall within Canastra Range National Park (Minas Gerais State – Brazil). Here, seven elements of river heritage were recognized: i) landscape set of the Canastra Range; ii) São Francisco historic headwater; iii) Curral de Pedras; Casca d’Anta waterfall; v) Nesting area of the Mergus octosetaceus; vi) diamond mining; vii) the Canastra cheese. The identified elements of river heritage highlight the scientific, ecological, cultural, historic and touristic/economic importance of the analyzed. stretch Moreover, such elements illustrate need for improvement of the existing legislations and more effective instruments of river management and river conservation.
Keywords: River heritage; São Francisco River; Canastra Range

1 Introduction

A territory’s identity is recognized by the register of natural and human processes through time. Therefore, integrating environmental and cultural heritage defines the essence of a territory (Ferrão & Braga, 2015). Historically, progress of society has close relation to rivers, initially by fishing and agriculture viability and subsequently by favoring commercial trades and production flow. The writer Mia Couto (Couto, 2005) defines herself as born in ‘fluvial ground’ since we are all tied to a ‘waterland’, and that is the reason why many communities use rivers as conductor elements and support for growth. Good examples come from the waterside communities developed along the Egyptian Nile River, which allowed the flourishment of the Old Egyptian Empire. Also, the Mesopotamians took advantage of the benefits from the Tiger and Euphrates rivers. Asian rivers were as well, fundamental to the organization of some of the most populous countries in the word; whereas Chinese arranged social and economic live around Yellow and Yang-Tsé rivers, India development was based on Indo and Ganges rivers.

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