THE LONGÁ RIVER AND THE SETTLEMENT ON NORTH OF PIAUÍ

Abstract

The Longá’s River basin represented important factor of settlement of Noth of Piau, in face of the environment resources it presents by itself. Both in relation to the availability of groundwater and surface water, such as biodiversity characterized by rich flora and fauna which highlight species that facilitated the installation of the first inhabitants, also for providing fruits for human consumptin, as well as wood and straw to build houses and construction of utility goods, such as the tucum, babaçu and carnaúba. It should be noted
that the canauba wax still remains as one of the main exports of Piauí in this first decade of this century. Besides the traditional economic activities in the Longa’s river basin since the beginning of colonization, it was possible to observe the use of modern production techniques, such as the use of irrigation, which reinforces the importance of water resources
present there, especially the main river, which is the the Longa River. Thus, this study was developed with the aim to characterize the natural aspects, to understand the settlement
process, to identify teh most expressive economical activities developed in this basin área and also to characterize the most predominant turistic activity. The methodology was based
on examinations of bibliographic material on the subject, such as books, articles, monographs, Internet research and on-site observation. It can be concluded that the basin requires attention of public officials and communities that inhabit them, as preventive actions must be taken to conserve this rich heritage of Piaui.