Physiographic parameters and environmental impacts of Santarem-Cuiaba highway (BR-163), in Pará (Brazil)

Abstract

This paper aims to show the links between physical geography and implementation of highways in certain excerpts of the state of Para, considering that most of the traces of these roads did not obey the conditions of the physical environment given the rapidity with which they were built, in addition to problems arising from their use, especially of differentiated relief units the case with most of the country axes and road systems. It includes thematic maps (geology, relief units, soils, vegetation and land use), showing the path of the BR-163 highway in the context of the state of Para. It is assumed that the implementation of major routes and road systems within the physical geography is a controversial issue given that the geographical investigations are essential to transportation issues taking into account that all lanes are inseparable from the geographical environment both in the physical as in socio-economic field.