Table 11. Geomorphic subunits of the Pantanal of Mato Grosso.1

   Subunit Description
  Cordones2, or small ranges     (cordilheiras 3) Positive relief forms, narrow and elongated, protruding slightly above the level of the surrounding terrain. Their shape and location suggests that they may be relics of a much more active geodynamical past.
  Channels with permanent runoff Negative relief forms of sizable depth, with permanent or quasi-permanent runoff, such as the major and minor rivers of the Pantanal.
  Channels with temporary runoff (corregos, or corixos3) Negative relief forms, shallow and more or less narrow, with temporary    (intermittent) runoff.
  Streambeds with temporary runoff     (vazantes3) Negative forms of relief, slightly concave and quite wide and shallow, with relatively mild longitudinal slopes.
  Depressed plains Generally flat and of negligible relief, typically occupying interfluvial locations and subject to more-or-less seasonal inundation.
  Flooded plains Positive forms of relief which are subject to seasonal inundation from neighboring channels.
  Diffuse flooded plains Flooded plains where runoff lacks a clear direction.
  Composite flooded plains Flooded plains where runoff may or may not have a clear direction. Typical of this subunit is the runoff of the lower courses of the Cassange, Alegre, Caracará, and Cuiabá rivers, right-bank tributaries of the Upper Paraguay river (downstream of Bela Vista do Norte and upstream of Amolar).
  Lagoons   (baías3) Negative forms of relief, sometimes of sharp concavity, which may be permanently or temporarily filled with water; saline at times. The greatest density of this subunit is found in the area of Nhecôlandia.
  Isolated hills   (inselberg, or island hills) Extremely positive relief forms, associated with underlying Precambrian and Cambrian rocks, and occupying relatively small areas within the Pantanal depression. Examples are the Ilha de Ínsua, Morro do Conselho, Morro de Coimbra, and Fecho dos Morros.
1 Source: Sánchez (1978). 2 Spanish. 3 Portuguese.