Geosite Assessment in Northern Patagonia (Argentina): A Case Study of the Coastal Geomorphology of the Caleta de Los Loros Natural Protected Area

Abstract

The Caleta de Los Loros natural protected area, in the northern of the San Matías Gulf, on the Argentinian Atlantic coast, has a developing ecosystem and presents extraordinary and distinctive coastal morphological features that preserve the paleoenvironmental history of the region. This study aims to develop a landform inventory and to characterize the geomorphological features in order to make a detailed map of the protected area. The objective is to draw attention to its value and assist in its conservation, as well as to incorporate it in a sustainable way into the geoheritage of the region. The methodology used includes the analysis of satellite images and shaded images derived from digital elevation models performed using QGIS and SAGA software, and a field survey to classify and characterize the geomorphology. The landform inventory considers three hierarchical groupings (large, medium, and small), based on the main morphologies and mapping scale rather than process origins. The results indicate that this region has high coastal geodiversity: landforms and points of geological interest, which underline the importance of including the geomorphological perspective for nature protection and sustainable use of the territory. In this respect, and in addition to scientific interest, the history of the landscape through its geodiversity is relevant for communication and educational and geotourism purposes. The natural legacy of the study area reveals to the public the significant value for the conservation to generate changes in the attitudes and behaviors of individuals towards the nature.