The influence of geology on the urban development of São Paulo City, Brazil
The paper discusses the city of Sao Paulo, one of the largest cities in the world, situated at the head of a basin drained by the Tiete River. This important river played a major role in the exploration and colonization of a large portion of South America by Europeans in the XVI and XVII centuries. Some of the geological characteristics in this region are quite unique. The paper is an attempt to analyse the relationship between these characteristics and Sao Paulos tremendous growth in population, reviewing the urban development of the city and showing how the hydro-geological factors affected its growth. A historical overview, from its foundation to the present day, is then presented in terms of: environment, site selection, natural resources and social factors.