METHODOLOGY A METODOLOGIA DE TRABALHO CONSISTE EM REALIZAR and interpreting preexisting data, such as scientific articles, books, websites, geological, geomorphological, and cartographic databases, to generate Geological-Environmental Units, considered a synthesis of the area’s geodiversity. The entire dataset is subsequently validated through fieldwork as new information related to water and mineral resources, urban occupation, agriculture, and geotourism is added. The figure below shows the detailed METHODOLOGICAL FLOW. SOUTHERN CANYONS PATHWAYS UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina Geodiversity as an Instrument for Territorial Planning: Geoscience Applied to Tourism, Urban Occupation, Agriculture, Water Resources, and Mineral Resources GEODIVERSITY MAP PRESENTATION IT IS WITH GREAT SATISFACTION THAT THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF BRAZIL (SGB-CPRM), in its institutional role of supporting States and Municipalities in the formulation of public policies for sustainable development, continues its series of publications that have been disseminating geodiversity as a tool for territorial planning since 2006. This initiative is based on a multidisciplinary approach involving professionals from diverse backgrounds in geosciences, offering integrated understanding and recommendations regarding the physical complexity of the landscape, and addressing abiotic elements for environmental territorial planning across different regions of Brazil. Brazil is home to remarkably rich geodiversity. Based on this premise, through integrated analysis of geology and geomorphology (as well as other geoscience topics), geodiversity units are mapped, providing a territorial basis for management focused on urban development, agriculture, water resources, mineral resources, and geotourism. Given humankind’s strong connection to the physical environment, the sustainability of national development necessarily depends on achieving harmony between human needs and the responses of the natural world, without compromising the ability to meet the needs of future generations. The Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB/CPRM) is honored to contribute—with the effort and expertise of its researchers—to the promotion of territorial planning initiatives that increasingly incorporate geodiversity. The expectation is that this technical-scientific production will be capable of opening new frontiers of knowledge, generating value, and enhancing quality of life for humanity. Directorate of Hydrology and Territorial Management PRE-FIELD SURVEY POST-FIELDFIELD 1 Survey and organization of the available data in GIS – Geographic Information System. 2 Harmonization of the geological map. 3 Development of preliminary Geological-Environmental Units. 4 Creation of preliminary maps (topography, soil, geotechnical issues, etc.). 1 Interpretation of the field data. 2 Development of the final maps. 3 Corrections in GIS. 4 Creation of the Digital Atlas. 5 Preparation of a technical-scientific report on Disaster Prevention and Territorial Planning. 1 Characterization of the Geological-Environmental Units based on geological-geotechnical aspects, surface hydrology, hydrogeology, mineral resources, and geotourism. 2 Evaluation of specific themes, depending on the project (water quality, soil, agricultural potential, among others). ABOUT THE PROJECT GEODIVERSITY IS DEFINED AS THE ABIOTIC COMPONENT (PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT) OF NATURE, comprised of a variety of environments, geological phenomena, and processes that result in landscapes, rocks, minerals, waters, soils, fossils, and various surface deposits. This geodiversity plays a fundamental role in the development of life on Earth, and its intrinsic values encompass cultural, aesthetic, economic, scientific, educational, and touristic aspects (CPRM, 2006). Through the understanding of geodiversity, it is possible to identify the suitability, potential, and limitations of the physical environment of a given area, considering the various types of land use. Furthermore, through the analysis of the characteristics of rocks, topography, and weathering processes, it provides a more comprehensive understanding of the specific natural landscapes of a region. This assessment aims to apply geological knowledge to issues related to urban occupation, agriculture, water resources, mineral resources, and geotourism. In this way, it seeks to support comprehensive and sectoral planning and management, promoting sustainable development, environmental preservation, and the well- being of society. The primary beneficiaries are governmental agencies responsible for urban planning and decision-making, regulatory bodies, public and private companies, society, and the overall geoscientific community. PRODUCTS GEODIVERSITY MAP Presents the cartography of the geological-environmental units and a legend summarizing their respective potential and limitations regarding the following uses: urban occupation, agriculture, water resources, mineral resources, and geotouris. DIGITAL ATLAS A document in A3 format, richly illustrated, which presents the study in detail and accessible language. FOLDER A document that synthesizes the general aspects of the study, its main results and recommended use. Location of the Southern Canyons Pathways Unesco Global Geopark GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM The data produced by the project are organized within a GIS environment, facilitating spatial understanding and relationships, which are important for planning, decision-making, and information sharing. TECHNICAL REPORT The results of the work were further developed through the preparation of articles for the Technical-Scientific Report on Disaster Prevention and Territorial Planning of the SGB, the Journal of Geological Survey of Brazil (JGSB), as well as scientific events and other journals. ABOUT THE STUDY AREA A THE STUDY AREA IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OF BRAZIL, between the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, approximately 200 km from Porto Alegre (the capital of Rio Grande do Sul) and 300 km from Florianópolis (the capital of Santa Catarina). It comprises a population of 78,533 inhabitants (IBGE, 2022) distributed over 2,803.80 km², across the Santa Catarina municipalities of Jacinto Machado, Morro Grande, Praia Grande, and Timbé do Sul, as well as the Rio Grande do Sul municipalities of Cambará do Sul, Mampituba and Torres. The region covers portions of two main landscape compartments – the plateau and the coastal plain – bordered by the Serra Geral escarpment in the Southern Canyons region, near the coastal zone. The region presents distinct land use and occupation patterns. The eastern portion, with its flat topography, is used for agriculture, with a focus on rice farming. On the plateau, the main economic activities are extensive livestock farming and forestry. In addition to agricultural activities, the region’s tourism vocation has been growing over the years, with a focus on rural and adventure tourism, combined with the contemplation of the natural beauty of various conservation units, such as the Aparados da Serra and Serra Geral national parks. The recent approval of the Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul Geopark (GCCS) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in April 2022 recognizes the region’s drive for sustainable development and opens doors to new opportunities for cooperation. The Geopark is now recognized as a territory of international geological significance and officially joins the Global Geoparks Network (GGN). The geopark area is home to rivers and streams that drain into four distinct watersheds. Approximately 40% of the GCCS area drains into the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, into the Taquari/Antas River Basin, located on the western plateau. In its lowland portions, 35% and 27% of the area are drained by watercourses from the Araranguá and Mampituba river basins. Less than 1% of the geopark area, in the municipality of Torres, is located in the Tramandaí River Elves Waterfall, Crowned Indians Canyons, Aparados da Serra National Park - Cambará do Sul, RS. Photo: Renato Mendonça Stratified sandstones of the Botucatu Formation at Guarita Park – Torres, RS. Photo: Almir Costa Map Legend Cities Highways State Borders Hydrography Geopark Area Ancient den in the Botucatu sandstone Formation – Morro Grande, SC. Photo: Marcelo Crepaldi Mampituba River plain with urban occupation and rice cultivation – Municipality of Mampituba, RS. Photo: Renato Ribeiro Mendonça In the foreground, rice plantations are visible on the alluvial fans in front of the Serra Geral plateau escarpment - Praia Grande, SC. Photo: Melissa Franzen José Lutzenberg State Park - Guarita Park - Torres, RS. Photo: Almir Costa Lava flow features characteristic of the Palmas Formation – Timbé do Sul Overlook, Highway SC-285, Serra da Rocinha, SC. Photo: Almir Costa GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF BRAZIL (SGB/CPRM) DIRECTORATE OF HYDROLOGY AND TERRITORIAL MANAGEMENT Head of the Department of Territorial Management Diogo Rodrigues Andrade da Silva Head of the Territorial Management Division Maria Adelaide Mansini Maia Methodological Conception Maria Adelaide Mansini Maia Marcelo Eduardo Dantas Pedro Augusto dos Santos Pfaltzgraff Alberto Lacerda Raimundo Almir Costa da Conceição Technical Coordination Raimundo Almir Costa da Conceição Local Coordination Raquel Barros Binotto Execution Team Raquel Barros Binotto Debora Lamberty Melissa Franzen Gilberto Lima Alberto Lacerda Elvio Giasson Camila Dalla Porta Mattiuzi Franco Turco Buffon Adriana Burin Weschenfelder Marcos Alexandre de Freitas Marcelo Goffermann Eliel Martins Senhorinho Angela da Silva Bellettini Renato Mendonça GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF BRAZIL – SGB Headquarters in Brasília, DF Setor Bancário Norte, Q2 CEP 70040-020 Rio de Janeiro Office, RJ Av. Pasteur, 404 - Urca, CEP 22290-240 Porto Alegre Regional Superintendency Rua Banco da Província, 105 - Santa Tereza, CEP 90840-030 CONTACT User Service seus@sgb.gov.br WEBSITE www.sgb.gov.br WEBSITE Cover Photo Cânion do Itaimbezinho, Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Cambará do Sul. Photo: Almir Costa THE ROCKS AND THE LANDSCAPE THE GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul Geopark (GCCS) spans events that occurred in very distant geological times. It contains ex- posures of continental sediments and shallow shelf deposits from the Paraná Basin, deposited on the paleocontinent Gondwana, as well as volcanic magmatism from the Serra Geral, deposited on these sediments along escarpments, terraces, and the Serra Geral Plateau. This is in addition to Cenozoic covers that overlie the aforementioned units on a broad plain east of the plateau escarpment. The landscape is the result of the reworking of the rocks by regressive erosion, trigge- red by the uplift of the eastern continental margin since the Cretaceous, forming an extensive escarpment trending NNE/SSO. The sediments produced by the weathering/erosion process were deposited by gra- vity, occupying the area from the coastline to the base of the escarpments. Thus, in topographical terms, there are two major compartments—the plateau and the plain—whose boundary is defined by the escarpment itself, with elevation differen- ces of over one thousand meters. These compartments are part of two distinct morphostructural units. The hi- gher compartment, reaching up to 1,300 meters, belongs to the Gondwanan Vulcanosedimentary Basin, while the remaining compartment, with elevations of up to 150 meters, is part of the Quaternary Sedimentary Cover. MINERAL RESOURCES THE MINERAL RESOURCES IN THE GCCS are mainly used in civil construction, for highway surfacing, floor and wall coatings, and in various industries. Refractory clays used in the ceramics industry are already being exploited in the Permian sedimentary rocks of the Paraná Basin, more specifically in the Teresina Formation in Morro Grande, SC and its surrounding areas. Along the highways that are being paved in the geopark region, the opening and ope- ration of borrow pits is common. The sandstones of the Botucatu Formation are exploited for the construction of si- dewalks, walls, foundations, as well as for terrain retention and supporting foundations. Colluvial-alluvial deposits serve as a source of sand, gravel, and pebbles along the re- gion’s watercourses, exemplified by the designated areas for gravel in the Mampituba River, which are used in civil construction. Areas registered—but not yet exploited—for mineral water and bentonite have been identified by the National Mining Agency (ANM) in the municipality of Torres. In general, there is a homogeneous and distributed use of mineral resources throu- ghout the Geopark area. It is essential that the use of the region’s mineral resources be carried out in a manner compatible and harmonious with demands for public supply and irrigation, creating a scenario of conscious and sustainable exploration. SURFACE WATER RESOURCES THE GCCS IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC HYDROGRAPHIC REGION and is situated within four river basins: Taquari/Antas (36%), Araranguá (35%), Mampituba (27%), and Tramandaí (1%). The escarpments act as a watershed di- vide: in the plateau is located the Taquari/Antas River Basin, and the rivers originating in this region drain towards the interior of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, to the west; in the lower part of the canyons, in the plain area, the rivers flow eastward towards the coast through the Araranguá and Mampituba river basins. Only a portion of the area, specifically the municipality of Torres, is part of the Tramandaí River Basin, which drains towards the southern coast. The Antas and Tainhas rivers have the highest flow rates from July to October, while in the Manoel Alves and Mampituba rivers, in the plain, the highest flows are observed during the summer months, from January to March. In terms of the use of surface water resources, the best conditions are observed in the plateau and escarpment areas, while the greatest compromise of surface water resources occurs in the plain regions. GROUNDWATER RESOURCES THE POROUS AQUIFERS IN THE GCCS are composed of the sedimentary rocks of the Paraná Basin (Teresina, Rio do Rastro, and Botucatu Formations) and unconsoli- dated Quaternary sediments. These aquifers cover about 30% of the area and exhibit varying potentials, ranging from low to moderate productivity. In general, the groun- dwater present in these porous aquifers is potable. The fractured aquifers make up approximately 70% of the GCCS and are formed by the volcanic rocks of the Palmas, Vale do Sol, and Torres Formations. Their producti- vity is quite variable depending on terrain conditions and, primarily, on the presence of geological and tectonic discontinuities. Higher groundwater productivity occurs in the Cambará do Sul region. In qualitative terms, its groundwater is generally excellent. The most common methods for extracting groundwater from the porous aquifers within the GCCS are through hand dug wells and shallow small diameter tubular wells in the plains, as well as the spring capture on hill slopes. In the case of the fractured aquifers, water is extracted via deep tubular wells in areas of higher potential, and by tapping springs in highly dissected and steep regions. In terms of natural vulnerability, the porous aquifers are the most susceptible to con- tamination, due to the high permeability and shallow water table. AGRICULTURAL SUITABILITY OVERALL, THE REGION OF THE GEOPARK presents good agricultural poten- tial, provided that the suitability of each area—based on its different soil types—is respected. Some areas face issues related to low soil fertility; in some cases, these issues can be easily resolved with fertilizers and amendments, while other areas are more suited for pasture production instead of crop production. Similarly, there are several areas with shallow soils that should be used exclusively for pastures. Many areas, because they occur in very rugged terrain and/or sandy surfa- ce texture, have a high potential for soil loss through erosion and must be used with specific soil management and conservation practices. 3 Aeolian: Coastal Dune Field It represents approximately 1% of the total area and consists of fine/very fine sands of quartz composi- tion, well-rounded and well-sorted, which form the dune fields that occur along the entire coast, or even further inland, of the Rio Grande do Sul State. These areas have important ecosystem functions that con- tribute to maintaining coastal dynamics, playing a key role in controlling erosion, advancing the salt wedge, and recharging the coastal aquifer. They have high scenic value and host several protected areas. 4 Fluvial: Alluvial Plain/Terrace It occurs in the form of sediments associated with floodplains and river dynamics. They have a very shallow water table, making them highly vulnerable to groundwater contamination and highly suscepti- ble to flooding. They have low occupancy potential and high environmental fragility. 5 Alluvial: Alluvial Fan It occupies 13% of the Geopark’s area and occurs in the form of sediments (sand, clay, and gravel) associated with alluvial fans, colluvium slopes, and slope foothills. The urban centers of Mampituba, Praia Grande, Jacinto Machado, and Timbé do Sul are located within this unit. The soils have good natural fertility. The shallow water table hinders mechanization. Landslides, mass flows, and flash floods are frequent, especially at the foothills of the escarpments. 6 Volcanic/Extrusive: Intermediate Composition It covers approximately 20% of the Geopark’s area and occurs on plateau-edge escarpments and enclo- sed valleys. It is related to the thick basaltic ande- site flows of the Vale do Sol Formation. On the Serra Geral escarpments, brecciated levels (canyons) are visible from a distance and allow the development of vegetation lines. Landslides and rockfalls or rolling are frequent. This area focuses on adventure tourism and the contemplation of the scenic beauty formed by the plateau escarpment 7 Volcanic/Extrusive: Basic Composition This unit is represented by Torres Formation basalts that occur from the plateau’s edge escarpment to the residual reliefs on the coastal plain (high and low hills). The regolith profile is well developed, with predominant red and red-yellow argisols and argilu- vic chernosols, with low resistance to environmental impacts. Landslides and block rollovers are recor- ded. Adventure and rural tourism are common. 8 Volcanic/Extrusive: Acidic Composition This unit consists of rhyolites, rhyodacites, dacites, and autobreccias of the Palmas Formation, in pla- teau and dissected plateau terrain. Its main occur- rence is in the municipality of Cambará do Sul. Its soils are shallow and developed, making them sui- table for pasture and forestry. They have moderate resistance to environmental impacts. Rural, cultural, and adventure tourism are common, particularly in the various canyons and national parks. 9 Paleocoastal: Ancient Estuary, Delta, Bay Bottom, Mangrove, Apicun, Mud Crown, Beach, Lagoon, and Plain This unit covers less than 2 km² and occurs in the form of high hills. It consists of the Teresina Formation, characterized by intercalations of fine to very fine sandstone and shale. Clayey soils, low natural fertility, and erosion are predominant. They have mineral potential for the extraction of refrac- tory clays, used in the ceramics industry. 10 Paleolic: Ancient Dune Field It occupies approximately 6.5% of the Geopark’s ter- ritory in the form of testimonial hills and plateau-e- dge escarpments. It consists of sandstone formed in a desert environment and is recognizable in the field by its pinkish-orange hue and extensive cross- -stratification. Viewing from viewpoints and visiting paleoburrows dug by extinct animals are common tourist activities. 11 Paleofluvial-Lacustrine: Ancient Alluvial Plain/Terrace, Lacustrine Plain, and Fluviolacustrine Plain It covers approximately 4% of the geopark’s area, located on the escarpments at the edge of plate- aus and hills. It is predominantly characterized by fine-grained, red to reddish-purple sandstone. The soils are predominantly imperfectly drained, with a clayey texture and a darker surface horizon, with low natural fertility and susceptible to erosion and frequent excess moisture. It has potential for tou- rism, as evidenced by the Rio do Salto and Rio do Tatu waterfalls. 1 Coastal: Marine Plain/Terrace Occurs in 1.4% of the Geopark and constitutes the current and former beach sand deposits in Torres. The rocky shores, Lobos Island, and the breakwaters north of Praia Grande influence coastal dynamics and wave patterns. This area is environmentally fra- gile and requires ongoing conservation efforts. 2 Coastal: Lagoon Occupying marshes and marine terraces in the coas- tal municipality of Torres, this unit covers about 3% of the Geopark area and includes paleolagoons such as Lagoa do Jacaré. The lagoon facies occupy the substrate of current water bodies, such as Lagoa de Itapeva and the small Lagoa do Violão in Torres, with sandy facies predominant in the marginal areas and muddy facies in the more central and deeper parts. 1 3 2 11 9 6 7 10 4 5 8 Activities such as livestock farming and reforestation are considered suitable in envi- ronments formed on acidic volcanic rocks of the plateaus, while rice farming is more appropriate in soils developed from colluvial-alluvial deposits and in river plains — a practice effectively observed in the vicinity of the Mampituba River. Additionally, ba- nana cultivation on the mid-slopes of Serra Geral, although common in the region, should be more carefully evaluated in view of the steep slopes observed and the po- tential for inducing erosive processes and mass movements. The preservation of the forested areas along the escarpments at the edge of the plateau—where the national parks are located—is the best approach for land use and management within the Geopark. . SOIL RESISTANCE TO DIVERSE ENVI- RONMENTAL IMPACTS WITHIN THE GEOPARK AREA, the soils with higher resistance to environmental impacts (medium resistance) are the Cambisols, which occur in the acidic rocks of the plateau in Cambará do Sul and in the colluvial-alluvial deposits along the escar- pment base. Similar behavior is presented by the Argisols of medium to high depths and which are found in gentle slopes. The Red Argisols and Chernosols, which occur in volcanic units on the escarpment and plains, on the other hand, have low resistance to environmental impacts. The Litholic and Regolithic Neosols, shallow soils found in areas with rolling to mountainous terrain, mainly on plateaus, are considered the least resistant to envi- ronmental impacts. Added to this group are Gleysols, which are very poorly drained, and Quartzops Neosols, which are very sandy. According to the classification of resistance to environmental impacts, it appears that 59% of the area of the Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul Geopark has soils with very low resistance to environmental impacts. This fact highlights the need to adopt environ- mental conservation and preservation practices. GEOTOURISM THE GCCS SHOWCASES AN EXUBERANT and diverse natural landscape, en- compassing geological and geomorphological features specific to a region located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Serra Geral Plateau in southern Brazil. The di- versity and unique characteristics of this territory are highlighted by the presence of geosites of international significance, such as the Itaimbezinho and Fortaleza canyons and the Guarita/Morro do Farol Park. Within the GCCS territory, national and state parks and conservation units play an important role in promoting sustainable tourism and the conservation of natural heritage. In addition to biodiversity conservation, the other elements that make up the geologi- cal substrate (rocky outcrops, beaches, dunes, lagoons, meanders, and river channels) can be appreciated and protected, including a rocky island on the coast, frequented by sea lions. The presence of waterfalls, canyons, rocky cliffs, and viewpoints, accessed via trails of varying difficulty levels, adds to the area’s tourist appeal. Even outside the de- marcated perimeter of conservation units, tourists can enjoy waterfalls, viewpoints, canyons, rocky cliffs, hills, caves, paleoburrows, and beaches . LAND USE OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES (1991 to 2021), the landscape of the GCCS region has undergone significant transformations in land cover, reflecting the dy- namism and demands of regional development, combined with the suitability of different soil types. The systematized information sheds light on important changes in some categories of use over time, with emphasis on the expansion of human activities on natural ecosys- tems, such as: the substantial increase in areas designated for forestry, the migration and expansion of agricultural and livestock activities, and the notable expansion of urban areas. Sustainable management of these changes is crucial to ensuring the region’s econo- mic prosperity, while also protecting the rich biodiversity and geodiversity of local ecosystems. URBAN OCCUPATION URBAN SPACES WITHIN THE GEOPARK’S TERRITORY have undergone a considerable change in terms of occupied area over the last three decades (1991 to 2021), increasing from 16.94 km² to 28.17 km². This phenomenon, driven by the fur- niture industry and the agricultural sector, has led to the combined growth of the main cities that comprise the Geopark, such as Cambará do Sul, Timbé do Sul, Jacinto Machado, Praia Grande, Morro Grande, and, above all, the district of Vila São João, located in the northwestern portion of Torres, registering an increase of nearly 70% in the urban area. The municipality of Torres, in the urban area bordering the coast, deserves special attention given the growing and notable process of vertical construction, resulting in population density. Indeed, the fragile coastal environmental systems subject to such urban growth pro- cesses require special attention. The same applies to the plateau’s edge escarpments, due to their high potential for mass movements (floods, landslides, rockfalls, etc.), and to the alluvial plains, which are susceptible to flooding. The assessment of the preferred growth axes of the Geopark’s headquarters and ur- ban centers is an important element for planning the responsible use and occupation of the territory and for the implementation of safe tourism activities. NOTE ON THE PRODUCT: The Geodiversity Map of the Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul Geopark, at a scale of 1:100,000, is part of the Geodiversity Survey Program, whose main objective is to provide public managers and society in general with a tool for understanding the potential and limitations of the physical environment for territorial planning and management. Its development is accomplished through an integrated analysis of geology, topography, soils, and surface and groundwater resources. This information is succinctly represented in the map legend and described in terms of the suitability and limitations of the mapped Geological-Environmental Domains and Units (1), with regard to infrastructure and occupation, agricultural use, as well as water, mineral, and geotourism resources. The Geopark has a strong tourism potential and encompasses territories in seven municipalities (Cambará do Sul, Mampituba, Morro Grande, Jacinto Machado, Praia Grande, Timbé do Sul, and Torres). The recent UNESCO recognition further reinforces the natural tourism appeal, with a focus on the region ‘s sustainable develop- ment. Despite its tourism potential, the region frequently suffers from floods and flash floods, as well as rockfalls and landslides, creating areas of geological and hydrological danger. These constraints require further study to ensure the safety of affected populations. Therefore, the Geodiversity Map—composed of three Geological-Envi- ronmental Domains subdivided into eleven Geological-Environmental Units—serves as a territorial planning tool that facilitates decision-making regarding land use and occupation. It can also inform future studies, including geotechnical maps and municipal master plans. The information used to create the Geodiversity Map was systematized within a Geographic Information System and made available for consultation, along with the Digital Atlas of Geodiversity, the Executive Summary, and the Technical-Scientific Articles that served as the basis for the map. All of this material is available in digital format for consultation and download on the SGB website. Source: (1) The term “Geological-Environmental Domains and Units” refers to the set of rocks and sediments that form the geosystems of the Brazilian territory. They are deri- ved from an integrated analysis of the rock material, topography, and weathered profiles when exposed. The SGB would be grateful if you could report any errors or omissions identified in this map (Email: seus@sgb.gov.br). Fonte: Cartographic Base: Hydrography, Water Bodies, and Highways were extracted from OpenStreetMap (www.openstreetmap.org). Municipal and State Boundaries, Rural Agglomerations, Towns, and Cities were provided by the IBGE (2022). When necessary, the base was adjusted using images available on the Google Earth platform. The shaded relief with multidirectional illumination was obtained from the Digital Elevation Model derived from COP-DEM (Copernicus DEM – Global and European Digital Elevation Model) with a 30 m resolution, accessed through the OpenTopography platform (https://opentopography.org). The original data are available from the European Space Agency. The Geological-Environmental Units were obtained through reclassification, integration, and validation based on field data and geological maps of the states of Rio Grande do Sul (Wildner et al., 2008) and Santa Catarina (CPRM, 2014), as well as the Paraná Basin Geology and Mineral Potential Project (Horn et al., 2022) . MAP LEGENDS GEOLOGICAL-ENVIRONMENTAL UNITS 1 - Coastal: Marine Plain/Terrace 2 - Coastal: Lagoon 3 - Aeolian: Coastal Dune Field 4 - Fluvial: Alluvial Plain/Terrace 5 - Alluvial: Alluvial Fan 6 - Volcanic/Extrusive: Intermediate Composition 7 - Volcanic/Extrusive: Basic Composition 8 - Volcanic/Extrusive: Acidic Composition 9 - Paleocoastal: Ancient Estuary, Delta, Bay Bottom, Mangrove, Apicun, Mud Crown, Beach, Lagoon, and Plain 10 - Paleoeolian: Ancient Dune Field 11 - Paleofluviolacustrine: Ancient Alluvial Plain/Terrace, Lacustrine Plain, Fluviolacustrine Plain Municipal seats Districts Municipal boundaries Watercourses Water bodies Highways Main roads Secondary roads Urban area CARTOGRAPHIC BASE PADRÕES DE RELEVO a. Floodplains (várzeas) b. Fluvio-lacustrine Plains (marshlands) c. Lagoon Plains (marshlands) d. Marine Plains (beaches) e. **Marine Plains (restingas) f. Anthropogenic Formations (land altered by mining activity) g. Marine Terraces (paleomarine plains located behind current sandy barriers) h. Dune Fields (mobile dunes) i. Coastal Islands j. Plateaus* k. Slabs, Large Slabs, and Abrasion Platforms l. Alluvial Fans m. Colluvial Ramps (undivided) n. Hills o. Small Hills p. Low Hills q. High Hills r. Incised Valleys s. Plateau-Edge Escarpments t. Eolianites (lithified dunes) SOUTHERN CANYONS PATHWAYS UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina GEODIVERSITY MAP