GEOLOGY AND TOURISM: PERSPECTIVES FOR GEOCONSERVATION AND THE PROMOTION OF GEOTOURISM IN CITY OF PIRENÓPOLIS-GO

Abstract

We live in a moment of appreciation and environment preoccupation, originated mainly after the realization of the 1st Conference about Human environment, in Stockholm, Sweden. Supported in this paradigm, a new segment of tourist activity was originated, identified as ecotourisme, which objective is join the tourism with the identification, the protection and the preservation of cultural and natural patrimony of the whole globe. However, this touristic modality has emphasized mainly the biological elements (fauna and flora) and the hydro resources, among the natural stuff, disconsidering the further physic aspects, like geological structure and geomorphgical features. Accepted the conception of one geological patrimony, this work has as objective to show the district of Pirenópolis-GO as the example of a space which makes touristic according to the incorporation of geological structure and feature, as failure and fracture, which leads to the landscape in valley forms, rapids and waterfalls. From the analyzes of thematic maps of different aspects referring to geologic local and adding to them the historic-cutural and socioeconomic data of the district, the intention of this paper is to show a theoretic outline to found the geoconservation and the promotion of geotourisme in this region. Besides the many historic happenings and the beautiful historic and civilized patrimony, Pirenópolis is very rich in environmental resources. Its region is full of many ecologic attractions, as rivers and streams of limpid waters, beautiful waterfalls, cross-country and mirador. Making part of a geotectonic unit of Faixa Brasília, represented by an old orogenetic chain built mainly by the Grupo Araxá and Sequência Metavulcanossedimentar of Peixe River, Pirenópolis district presents, according to this geologic basement, features that give them a particular nature, with altimetric measurement that stands out among the biggest ones in Goiás, as an habitat of tipic vegetation: the Cerrado. The sequences of valleys and hills fall in an attractive view and can be interpreted and explained in a simple way to the geotourist, because the relief and surface present visible marks in the geologic alteration. Keywords: geology; geoconservation; geotourism, Pirenópolis (GO), Geological heritage