Hydrologic and geomorphologic features of the Río del Oro basin, La Rioja province, Argentina

Abstract

The analysis of the geomorphological features developed over a given area contributes to the knowledge of the processes that intervened in the evolution of the landscape, helping to reliably understand their interaction with the surface and underground water resources. The headwaters of the Río del Oro are in the Sierra de Famatina, which is located in the north center of La Rioja Province. Based on the collection and analysis of the bibliography and images of the study area and field work, several geomorphological features of the area were identified and characterized, in order to establish links with their locations and determine the agents and processes that acted in landscape modeling. In turn, a hydrological description was made to broaden the knowledge of the water resource of this area, which is essential according to the arid climatic conditions. Despite the aforementioned context, fluvial activity stands out as one of the main relief modelers, considering the neotectonics and the Quaternary climate changes as notable factors in evolution.