Problems caused by phenomena of urban dispersion: the expansion of AMGR and the urban sprawl

Abstract

This research is aimed at showing the problems caused by the urban expansion over rural spaces. These are linked to two types of risks: water and fires associated with periods of hydric excess or scarcity suffered by the Northeast region of Argentina. The area selected for
this research is the one situated in the north of the Area Metropolitana of Gran Resistencia (AMGR). In this area, urbanization processes have been observed through the main routes (Ruta nacional n° 11 and minor roads). This urban area constitutes isolated centers separate from the neighboring towns (like Colonia Benitez and Margarita Belén) but the tendency is to be integrated soon in a continuous urban spot. In this area located inside a zone where urban and rural habits are blended; the urban shadow (Bryant and Russwur, 1982) has a strong presence due to the discontinuous urbanization in the form of “salto de rana” or sprawl (Alberto, 2014) which responds to urban functionality attributes with territories specially isolated by natural (in this case, the river Tragadero) or anthropic phenomena (the real estate prices or agricultural activities). Still, these territories maintain a dynamic relationship of exchange with AMGR.