Evolução natural e antrópica: Trafaria - Cova do Vapor - Costa de Caparica

Mestrado em Arquitetura Paisagista - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaIt was on the early decades of the twentieth century that the human occupation of the coast in Portugal showed a great increase. The intense occupation of the section Trafaria - Cova do Vapor - Costa de Caparica led to serious consequences; the lack of territorial planning; the sharp coast erosion. The anthropic actions together with the eustatic variations represent a high risk for the Portuguese coast, which becomes vulnerable to erosion processes. The objective of this dissertation is to present the natural and anthropic events that have contributed over the years to the evolution of this particular section of Portuguese coastline. Pictures, maps and descriptions were used to access the natural and anthropic evolution of this section. Since the 40s of the twentieth century, this area suffered sharp erosion processes. This coast erosion increase was due to the fast anthropogenic evolution of this section as a consequence of its occupation, firstly by fishermen and later by the increased demand on the south bank of the Tagus River for touristic use (bathing area). The consequences of the human activities increase are: lack of territorial planning; aggravation of natural risks; artificiality of the shoreline; emerging coastal defense works; industrialization; progressive shoreline’s retrea