Torrinha - Geography

Geography

Large mountainous areas consisting of basaltic and sandstone mountains as tall as 80 km lie within the perimeter of Torrinha, along with 34 other canyons. The potential for tourist attractions associated with this geological feature is indisputable once that walls up to 100 feet tall, beautiful waterfalls, caves of sandstone and basalt, and even a gallery forest and well preserved primary hillsides can be found in narrow valleys still unexplored.

Torrinha is part of the western Sao Paulo plateau, which includes the geotectonic unit called Paraná Basin, where accumulation of thick sedimentary masses and basaltic volcanic eruptions occurred in the Tertiary period (Cenozoic Age – between 70 and 12 million years), caused underground tectonic and erosive processes; hence the emerging festooned-scarp relief called "cuestas" (Spanish: Encuestas) arranged in arcs towards the Brazilian Highlands, which encompasses the "Torrinha" rock as well.

The municipality also has about 5% of its original native vegetation preserved. Of this total, almost 100% is composed of vegetation on slopes. Savannah and broad-leaved tropical forest species still exist in small isolated areas, although they have been almost completely decimated for being originally considered proper for agriculture and stock breeding. Fortunately, the presence of numerous rock walls and slopes that sprang from the "cuestas", primarily an "embarrassment" for the settlers from the beginning of the 20th century, preserved this natural and important sanctuary treasure for biodiversity in the state of Sao Paulo.