STRATIGRAPHIC AND MORPHODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS FROM THE COLOMBIAN CARIBBEAN COASTLINE, (ZONE BETWEEN BARRANQUILLA (BOCAS DE CENIZA) AND GALERAZAMBA)

Abstract

The geologic (stratigraphic) and morphodynamic characteristics throughout 76 km of the coastal profile of the Colombian Caribbean, including those between Barranquilla (Bocas de Ceniza) and the spit of Galerazamba are described. The sections of the coast that have been affected by erosive events and those with sedimentary accretion are described. Some of them are associated to both natural and anthropic phenomena. Geologically, the coastal edge is defined by sedimentary rocks, weakly consolidated sediments and inconsolidated sediments, that include ages from the upper Paleocene to the Recent. From the point of view of the evaluation of the coast in terms of stability and instability, the high coasts are classified as: Critic zones (Punta Sabanilla, Castillo and Pradomar), unstable zones (from Punta Castillejo to Punta la Garita) and stable zones (elevated abrasion terraces of Puerto Caimán and Galerazamba). The low coasts were catalogued as highly erosive (beaches associated to the bog of Mallorquín, NE part of the ear of Puerto Colombia, north of Morro Hermoso and in front of  the salt mines Galerazamba) and in sedimentary accretion (from the distal part of the ear of Puerto Colombia to the south end of Manzanillo and to the spit of Galerazamba).