ALGUNS APONTAMENTOS SOBRE O PAPEL DA ESTÂNCIA HIDROMINERAL DE ÁGUAS DE SANTA BÁRBARA (SP) NO CONTEXTO DA REDE URBANA DE BOTUCATU (SP)

Abstract

The objective of this work is to bring some elements that collaborate for the understanding of the role that the small city and Hydromineral Resort of Águas de Santa Bárbara plays in the context of the urban network to which it belongs, that is, the urban network of Botucatu, considering the period today. For the construction of this work, a field visit was made in order to collect data, associating them with the bibliography, within the scope of geographic science, linked to the urban network and small cities. To help the understanding of the current urban network, the elements pointed out by REGIC - Region of Influence of Cities (IBGE, 2008) were considered, thus building the map of the urban network on screen. It was concluded that the tourist activity related to the fact that Águas de Santa Bárbara is a Hydromineral Resort, although in relative decline, is configured as an element that contributes for the studied city to maintain relations that go beyond the urban network of Botucatu, despite it is a small city, identified by REGIC (IBGE, 2008), as a local center.