MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF WATERSHED RIVER CACAU-MA

Abstract

This article comes from the analysis of morphometric characterization of the river basin Cacau, affluent of the Tocantins River, which covers the municipalities of Buritirana, Davinopólis, Governador Edson Lobão, Imperatriz and Senador La Roque in the state of Maranhão. The analysis and delineation of the watershed was obtained from the softwares Global Mapper 9 and Idrisi Kilimanjaro. The drainage area has 917 km² and the perimeter of 156.7 kilometers. The basin has a great relevance to their area of coverage, mainly for the local population. In general, it was found that the studied area has alongated shape, with average drainage density, flat terrain and average slope of 44.83%. These parameters have great influence on the surface seeps ment and, consequently, about the process of erosion that results in loss of soil, water, organic matter, nutrients and elements of microfauna, that may cause siltation of bodies of water. So, it is expected that this study on the dynamics of hidrogeomorfológics processes may contribute to the rational management of land use in the watershed.