Geomorphology and Quaternary geology of the Argentina coast

Abstract

Argentina oceanic coast is of special interest to research work on problems of general geomorphology. 1) Shelf along the Argentina coast is broadest and best developed of all the oceanic shelves of the World. 2) The coastal zone presents various landforms and sediments typical of areas which adjoin regions glaciated during the Pleistocene. 3) Pleistocene and Holocene shorelines are traced along all the coast by terraces and emerged depositional coastal landforms, fossil barriers etc. Recent coastal landforms are also composite in structure, some features being inherited from the Pleistocene. 4) Recent dynamics of the sea coast is characterized with active marine erosion; its rate is up to 10 meters per year. Most urgent problems which face the coastal geomorphologists of Argentina are control of marine erosion and harbour silting, as well as elaboration of measures on recultivation of salt marshes and depositional landforms, both Holocene and recent.