Landscapes and landforms of Brazil / Ландшафты и формы рельефа Бразилии

Landforms and landscapes vary enormously across the Earth, from high mountains to endless
plains. At a smaller scale, nature often surprises us creating shapes which look improbable.
Many physical landscapes are so immensely beautiful that they received the highest possible
recognition—they hold the status of World Heritage properties. Apart from often being
immensely scenic, landscapes tell stories that not uncommonly can be traced back in time for
tens of millions of years and include unique events. In addition, many landscapes owe their
appearance and harmony not solely to the natural forces. For centuries, and even millennia,
they have been shaped by humans who have modified hillslopes, river courses, and coastlines,
and erected structures which often blend with the natural landforms to form inseparable
entities.
These landscapes are studied by geomorphology—‘the science of scenery’—a part of Earth
Sciences that focuses on landforms, their assemblages, surface, and subsurface processes that
molded them in the past and that change them today. To show the importance of geomorphology in understanding the landscape, and to present the beauty and diversity of the geomorphological sceneries across the world, we have launched a book series World
Geomorphological Landscapes. It aims to be a scientific library of monographs that present
and explain physical landscapes, focusing on both representative and uniquely spectacular
examples. Each book will contain details on geomorphology of a particular country or a
geographically coherent region. This volume presents the geomorphology of Brazil, a big
country with a multitude of spectacular landscapes, from the very well known—such as the
steep-sided domes of Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, or majestic rivers of the Amazonian
Lowland—to many hidden gems scattered across the Brazilian Shield. For such a vast and
varied territory to make a selection of case studies must have been an arduous task, so
inevitably they present only a small fraction of what Brazil has to offer in terms of geomorphological sceneries to enjoy. To discover and learn more, go to Brazil! This would be an
unforgettable geomorphological experience.
The World Geomorphological Landscapes series is produced under the scientific patronage
of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG)—a society that brings together
geomorphologists from all over the world. The IAG was established in 1989 and is an
independent scientific association affiliated with the International Geographical Union (IGU)
and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). Among its main aims are to
promote geomorphology and to foster dissemination of geomorphological knowledge.
I believe that this lavishly illustrated series, which sticks to the scientific rigor, is the most
appropriate means to fulfill these aims and to serve the geoscientific community. To this end,
my great thanks go to the editors of this volume—Prof. Bianca Carvalho Vieira as the senior
editor, and Profs. André Augusto Rodrigues Salgado and Leonardo José Cordeiro Santos as
co-editors. <...>