Análise das Paisagens para Escaladas em Ambientes Naturais na APA da Escarpa Devoniana - PR/BR

Abstract

Rock climbing practices have a wide manifestation in the territory of Paraná. Located in various geomorphological compartments and rocky outcrops, where 37 climbing sectors were identified, some equipped with hundreds of routes. Climbing routes are usually recorded in sketches, which contain a series of information relevant to climbers, such as: route names, positions and types of protections, aspects of the rocks, degrees of difficulty, among others. A climbing guide is a book that gathers sketches, maps, photographs, and information about an area or region equipped for the practice of this sport. These can be analyzed geographically as they provide a spatial record of the climbs. The climbing sectors are largely protected by conservation units. However, most of the rock climbing areas surveyed for this work are in the Environmental Protection Area (EPA) of the Devonian Escarpment. The present study aims to analyze the landscapes for climbing in natural environments in the APA of the Devonian Escarpment, in Paraná. Also included are: a) Investigating the spatial distribution of climbing practices consolidated in the natural environments of the State of Paraná; b) Identify and characterize rock climbing landscapes; c) Comparatively analyzing samples of landscapes for rock climbing in the APA of the Devonian Escarpment. To this end, we sought to compile information recorded in climbing guides, such as: toponyms, degrees of difficulty, locations, and types of protections. The geological and geomorphological mappings were obtained from the Water and Earth Institute (WEI) website, in vector format, at a scale of 1:250,000. The data obtained in the survey of the climbing sectors resulted in 1314 routes. The locations of the climbing sectors were superimposed on the themes: Morphostructural and Morphosculptural Units, Morphosculptural Subunits, Geological Units, and Conservation Units. This overlap resulted in thematic maps and a table of attributes of the climbing sectors, with the themes mentioned above. To differentiate and characterize the landscapes for climbing practiced in the sandstones of the Furnas Formation, the climbing sectors were initially grouped into their respective hydrographic sub-basins. Subsequently, in each of the sub-basins, the most representative sector in each area was chosen, considering its geological and geomorphological aspects and its importance for climbing practices. The cut analyzed in this work comprises an area of influence with a radius of 5 km, considered from the point that represents the climbing sector. The aim is to sample the landscapes for climbing, explain their environmental contrasts and correlate their environmental attributes (geology, soils, slope, land use, and land cover).