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The geoheritage of Lubango-Tundavala road traverse in the Serra da Leba (SW Angola): Outcrops characterization and numerical assessment for outdoor educational activities and geoconservation purpose

2019; Elsevier BV; Volume: 157; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2019.05.018

1879-1956

Fernando Carlos Lopes, Anabela Ramos, Celeste Gomes, Constantino C. Ussombo,

Spatial Cognition and Navigation

This study was carried out in the Serra da Leba, Southwest of Angola, at selected sites along the road linking the city of Lubango to the Tundavala Gorge. Its main objectives are the identification, location, geological and geomorphological characterization of each site, the evaluation of its geoheritage value and its integration into an educational itinerary (the Lubango-Tundavala road traverse). The geological framework of the study are Proterozoic granitoids and quartzites. Seven sites were highlighted, from southeast to northwest along the road traverse: 1) Castle Hill (Eburnean granitoids); 2) Chapel Rock (Eburnean granitoids); 3) Overlooking the Tundavala earth dam (Mapunda River. Eburnean granitoids and post-Eburnean quartzites); 4) Tundavala Water catchment and treatment station (Eburnean granitoids and post-Eburnean quartzites); 5) Enchanted City (post-Eburnean quartzites); 6) Valley of the Ruins (post-Eburnean quartzites); 7) Viewpoint of the Tundavala Gorge (post-Eburnean quartzites). The sites were selected using mainly the results of fieldwork (observation, production of representations, measurement, data interpretation and modeling), the interpretation of remote sensing data and published literature and cartography. As a result of the evaluation by application of the numerical assessment methodology, the site of the Lubango - Tundavala road traverse with the highest total value is the “Viewpoint of the Tundavala Gorge”. However, the calculated ranking of all the sites shows the “Overlooking the Tundavala earth dam (Mapunda River)” site with the best position, being therefore considered the place with the highest geoheritage value in the area under evaluation. This is justified by its high-use value and consequently higher management value. Using the previously characterized and evaluated sites, several field activities to include in a field guide that allow highlighting aspects such as landscapes, outcrops, lithologies, structures and resources were proposed. The sites of this road traverse are of great scientific, didactic and aesthetic/photographic value, levels. For this reason and for the vulnerability of some of them, they should be preserved and protected by legislation.