Delimitation of the Brazilian Pantanal and its subregions

Abstract

This work aims at delimiting and quantify the Pantanal plain in Brazil, on 1:250,000 scale, its subregions and their state and county participations in the region. The criteria adopted for the delimitation were aspects related to flood, relief, soil and vegetation. The materials utilized were previous studies concerning to physiographic delimitation of the Pantanal, Global Positioning System (GPS), statistical municipal maps, topographic charts and Landsat satellite 5 TM images, both on 1:250,000 scale, supported by field observations. Extraction of information from satellite images was made through visual interpretation methods. The adopted criteria were consistent for the delimitation, being flood and relief having been the most important. The High Paraguay River Basin in Brazil was quantified in 361,666 km², and the Pantanal in Brazil in 138,183 km², thus occupying 38.21% of the area of the basin. The participation of the 16 municipalities in the composition of the physiographic area of the Pantanal was determined, being seven counties in the State of Mato Grosso, occupying 35.,36% of the Pantanal area, and nine counties in Mato Grosso do Sul, occupying 64.64% of the Pantanal area. The Pantanal was subdivided into 11 subregions.