HYDROGRAPHY OF COLOMBIA: RIVERS, BASINS, OCEANS, HUMIDITY - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The hydrography of Colombia makes it one of the richest countries in terms of hydrological sources, given that it has a great variety of rivers, lakes, lagoons and basins throughout the country. Mainly two main aspects are attributed to him, although some authors include two and even three more.

These slopes are the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Several important rivers are born from these, such as the Magdalena, Cauca, Nechí, Meta, Vichada, among others. It should be noted that there are also other important sources of water, such as lakes and so-called swamps.

The swamps are originated by landslides in the rivers, producing the accumulation of water in lowlands and swamps. On the other hand, Colombia has other centers of fresh water that are of great importance to the country and that come from the Colombian Massif, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Nudo de los Pastos and the Nudo de Santurbán.

The case of groundwater is particular, because although it is considered an alternative to surface water (rivers and lagoons), it is not used because it is found in reserves of heritage importance. However, groundwater abounds in the country.

As the temperature rises, some of these groundwater emerge as hot springs. Among the most notable are those found in Boyacá, Puracé, Cauca, Nevado del Ruíz, Santa Rosa de Cabal and in some parts of Cundinamarca.

The government, together with some private companies, has made the pertinent efforts for the study, analysis of conditions and the supply of groundwater to the main cities in the interior of the country, in order to meet the growing demand.

Rivers

As noted above, the rivers of Colombia are classified into several main slopes, which will be explained below:

Pacific slope

One of the most important characteristics of this area is that thanks to its location near the Pacific Ocean, it is natural to find constant rainfall. In addition, the place is also home to short but mighty rivers that are ideal for navigation. Among the most important are:

Baudo River

With a length of 150 km, this river serves as a limit to separate the mountains from the coast.

San Juan River

Being one of the most important rivers in the area and in Colombia, it is also the largest in the region. It is the main source for the hydroelectric plant that bears his name.

Patía River

It is 400 km long and covers sections of plain and mountain. The basin of this river is considered to be of high economic wealth, since it is a source of gold, cocoa and bananas.

Mira River

Its origin is in Ecuador, where it makes most of the journey, so it marks the international boundaries between Colombia and that country. It is navigable and similar to the basin of the Patía river, its lands are also rich for the planting of bananas and palm.

Caribbean slope

Of great economic importance, the Caribbean slope allows communication from the inland towns to the coast, in addition to representing an important source of hydroelectric energy thanks to the rivers that make it up. Its rivers practically run from the north to the south.

Another important feature to highlight is that this slope also feeds on the Andean Cordillera, especially the Colombian massif. Some of its most important rivers are:

Magdalena river

Considered the most important river in the country, it has an extension of more than 1500 km, making it the longest tributary of the Andean region. It receives water from more than 400 rivers and more than 5000 streams throughout the territory, which is why, in addition, it unites several populations of the country from north to south.

Cauca River

It is one of the main tributaries of the Magdalena River and, thanks to its location (in the Cauca Valley), its lands are fertile for an important series of economic activities.

Sinú River

It is another of the most important rivers in the country, despite the fact that its length is just over 300 km.

Slope of the Orinoco or Orinoquia region

The area is located in the eastern part of the country, where the Orinoco River touches Colombian territory, so it also serves as an international border with Venezuela. Some of the most important rivers are:

Arauca River

It has a length of 1000 km, which function as a border with Venezuela for a stretch of 280 km.

Meta River

It is the main river of the so-called eastern Colombian plains and has an extension of more than 1000 km.

Vichada River

It is born in the eastern plains and its waters allow an irrigation system that makes its lands suitable for livestock and agriculture.

Guaviare River

It is the longest on the slope and functions as a boundary between the jungle and plains areas of the country. Part of its flow makes it suitable for navigation.

Amazon slope

Due to the intensity of the flow of the waters of these rivers, navigation is not a recommended activity. The area is home to the longest rivers in the country; some of the most important are

Black river

Also called Guainía, it is born in the jungle and has a length of more than 2000 km, of which 650 km cross the territory. With this it is allowed to establish the limits with Brazil and Venezuela.

Caquetá River

It originates in the Colombian massif and part of it also runs through Brazil.

Vaupés River

It is one of the few rivers whose 1000 km of extension are considered completely navigable.

Putumayo River

The location of the river establishes the limits with Peru and part of Ecuador. In Colombia it has an extension of 1500 km.

Catatumbo slope

As previously stated, some authors include this aspect as they consider it to be of importance for the region. The rivers, for the most part, flow into Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela. Some of the most important are:

Catatumbo River

Located in the east of the country, it branches out before flowing into Lake Maracaibo. Most of the tributaries found in the area have short lengths where this particular stands out.

Others that should be highlighted are: the Zulia River (which runs through part of Colombian territory) and the Sardinata River.

Watersheds

In Colombia, these areas are home to a great wealth of fauna and flora, as well as lands that are conducive to various economic activities. Some of the most important basins are:

Atrato river basin

With 35 thousand km2, the basin is fed by several tributaries such as the Atrato River and the Baudo River.

Sinú river basin

The lands that are in the surroundings of the zone are favorable for the sowing of rice.

Cauca river basin

It has more than 60 thousand km2 and houses the Cauca River, which flows into the Magdalena River. The route of both covers the north and south of the country.

Magdalena river basin

The river in this basin is born in the Colombian massif and has an area of ​​more than 270 thousand km2. In addition, its lands are rich in hydrocarbons and in several of its derivatives.

Catatumbo river basin

According to scholars, the area of ​​this basin reaches about 24 thousand km2. The main river, the Catatumbo, flows into Lake Maracaibo, in Venezuelan lands.

Meta river basin

The basin of this river occupies about 90 thousand km2. The river in this basin flows into the Orinoco, Venezuela.

Caquetá river basin

The Caquetá River originates in the Colombian massif, to flow into the Amazon.

Putumayo river basin

The Putumayo River has an extension of 1800 km, whose flow flows into the Amazon of Brazil.

Patía river basin

The lands in the surrounding area are rich in gold. The tributary of this basin empties into the Pacific.

San Juan river basin

The basin covers more than 14 thousand km2. The lands in the vicinity are abundant in gold and precious minerals.

Hydrographic centers

There are different geographic structures that allow the accumulation of fresh water and that are an important source for human consumption. Furthermore, in the case of Colombia, some of these formations allow the source of several important rivers in the country.

Some of the most important structures are:

Colombian massif

It is known as the origin of important rivers such as the Magdalena, the Cauca and the Patía. It is currently considered one of the most important fresh water reserves in the world.

Massif Antioqueño

Located in the central part of the mountain range, the massif is the source of several rivers that also feed the Magdalena and the Cauca.

Knot of grasses

At this point the Putumayo and Mira rivers originate, as well as the Patía river. It is also home to one of the largest lakes in Colombia: La Cocha lagoon. It should be noted that it is considered as the starting point of the Andean Cordillera in Colombia.

Cerro de Caramanta

From this hill the rivers San Juan and the Risalda are born.

Paramillo knot

The branches that are in this originate several important tributaries, such as the Sinú and San Jorge.

Sumapaz Paramo

It is a mountain range located to the east of the territory. From this point the Meta and Guaviare rivers are formed.

Paramo of Guachaneque

From this structure arise the rivers Bogotá, Uía and Negro.

Santurbán knot

It is connected to the Catatumbo slope, because the Zulia and Catatumbo rivers originate from there, as well as other tributaries that feed the Arauca River.

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

Part of the rivers found in the area flow into the Caribbean Sea. Others, on the other hand, do it in swamps or in the Magdalena River. It is believed to be the source of more than 30 watersheds.

Oceans

Colombia is located between the Pacific Ocean and has access to the Atlantic Ocean through the Caribbean Sea. This makes it one of the few countries in South America with this relevant characteristic.

Thanks to its geographical location, Colombia has a wealth of hydrological sources.

Lakes and lagoons

The country does not have lakes as such, but rather lagoons and swamps, the latter being floodplain species depending on the time of year.

However, some artificial lakes produced by the construction of dams and hydroelectric plants can be included, such as:

- Watering can.

- Chinganza Reservoir.

- Chíbor Reservoir.

- Gachaneque reservoir.

- Neusa Reservoir.

- Lake Sochagota.

- Calima Reservoir.

Some of the most important gaps that can be found are:

- La Cocha, one of the best known.

- Tota, located in the state of Cundinamarca.

- Fúquene, also located in Cundinamarca.

In the case of the swamps - formations that are widely extended throughout the territory - the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, the Ciénaga de Tesca, the Cartagena Bay, the Ciénaga Grande del Sinú, the Ciénaga de Zapatosa, the Ciénaga de Chilloa stand out. and the beaches of Santa Ana.

Groundwater

The main underground waters found in Colombia are of the type of mineral waters and thermal waters.

As for mineral waters, those of Zipaquirá, Nemocón and Sesquilé stand out. With regard to hot springs, they are located in volcanic areas, which is why they concentrate high temperatures and minerals. Some important ones are in Paipa, Santa Rosa de Cabal and the Nevado del Ruiz.

In view of the composition of the waters, the Colombian government has been in charge of carrying out the pertinent studies so that they are for human consumption and can be taken to the different towns in the interior of the country.

However, those found in soils of ecological and environmental importance are respected, in order to maintain the preservation of the environments found there.

Humidity

Due to its location, Colombia has a melting pot of climates throughout the year. There are areas where the temperature goes from more than 30 ° C, while others can even drop to 0 ° C.

Likewise, thanks to the convergence of the oceans, some areas of the country present a significant percentage of humidity that is manifested in the form of rainfall (such as the Pacific Coast, margins in the Orinoco and adjacencies in the Magdalena River).

On the other hand, towards the north, in La Guajira, the humidity is lower and the temperatures are higher. Due to this, the rains are rather scarce.

Precipitation

The highest concentration of precipitation is manifested on the coast, in the vicinity of the Pacific Ocean, due to the accumulation of winds that come from the coast and remain in part of the territory.

Other areas that also present a similar situation are in the Colombian Amazon and the mountain ranges. It is worth mentioning that there are a couple of fluvial patterns that manifest themselves during the year:

- One that happens over a long period of time followed by a period of drought.

- Another "bimodal" nature, in which periods of rain are interspersed with dry periods. It happens more frequently in the central areas.

References

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