Geomorphology of Rio Grande do Norte State

The geomorphological mapping of the state of Rio Grande do Norte largely followed the methodology adopted by Santos et al. (Revista Brasileira de Geomorfologia 7:03–12, 2006) for the state of Paraná, in order to update knowledge of regional geomorphological mapping. The scale adopted was 1:250,000, which allowed the first three taxons to be used, i.e., the cartographic representation of morphostructural units, morphocultural units, and morphocultural subunits. The first taxon identified the morphostructural units: Brazilian Orogenic Belt; Marginal Sedimentary Basins; Cenozoic Volcanism and/or Plutonism; and Quaternary Sedimentary Covers. The second taxon identified the following morphological and cultural units: Sertaneja Depression; Borborema Plateau; Massifs and Inland Plateaus; Coastal Plateaus and Tablelands; Tectonic Reliefs in Marginal Basins; Reliefs Associated with Neogene Volcanism/Plutonism; and Coastal and River Plains. There were thirty-four morphological and cultural subunits in the third taxon. The aim of this work is to help plan and organize the territory of the state of Rio Grande do Norte.