Río Desaguadero: una propuesta como lugar de interés geológico (Argentina)

Abstract

Even though Geological Heritage valuation plays an important role in the Earth Science studies since decades around the world; this analysis is lacking in Argentina. The aim of the present paper is to contribute to knowledge, diffusion, and preservation of Geological Heritage in this country. This work denotes the significance of the Desaguadero River basin as geological interest site in the region comprised by the Las Cabras hills and western alluvial plain of Mendoza province. According to three different methods we evaluate several indicators associated to its intrinsic value, educational importance, potential utility, and vulnerability of the site. High intrinsic and didactic values emphasise the region representing geological processes occurred in the dry environment of Central Western Argentina during the Late Quaternary. Its relevance is compared as well with other potential sites, concluding this area classifies as a site to be included in the inventory of Argentinian Geological Heritage. The region is comprehended in the Ramsar site of Lagunas de Guanacache, Desaguadero y del Bebedero.