Los territorios del agua en dos localidades de la Amazonía norte del Perú: los casos de Lamas (San Martín) y Santa María de Nieva (Amazonas)

Abstract

In the last 50 years, the population growth of urban areas has increased significantly in Latin America. While this growth is mainly concentrated in coastal cities, places that were less populated before and even misperceived as uninhabited, as the Amazonia, also present an urban population increase. The cities of Lamas and Santa Maria de Nieva belong to the network of Peruvian northern cities: they are located in a transverse axis connecting the coast (Piura, Chiclayo) with the lower Amazonia (Iquitos). Taking into account the characteristics of land occupation, using cartographic sources (maps and satellite images) and gathering data from field research conducted during the month of August 2015, a first analysis of the urban water cycle was performed. It is based on the idea that this cycle is not only carry out in urban areas but rather has a close relationship with the territory (and resources) surrounding both locations. The results show that both cities have a significant impact (negative and positive) in the water sources and wastewater discharges of the territory. It has also been found that inside the urban space, water is an element that configures or sets sub-zones.