The hydrography of Veracruz exhibits a great wealth that includes perennial rivers, intermittent rivers and streams, in addition to its lagoons and other bodies of water. Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave is a Mexican state located in the center-east of the country.
Its extensive hydrographic network guarantees accessibility to the vital liquid and the satisfaction of human needs.
This crescent-shaped entity stretches 650 miles along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
The coast is made up of small strips of sand interspersed with tidal currents and lagoons.
Veracruz has more than 40 rivers and is one of the wettest lands in Mexico, with a third of the country's hydrological resources.
Hydrological regions
Regarding its surface waters, the hydrography of Veracruz is comprised of five regions.
The first of these is the hydrological region of Pánuco, which covers 14.75% of the state surface.
In this region, the Pánuco river basin is the determining fluvial system; it is followed by the rivers Tamesí and Moctezuma.
On the other hand, there is the Tuxpan-Nautla hydrological region, which covers 22.96% of the surface and is the second largest in the entire state.
The basins of the Tuxpan-Nautla rivers are the most important fluvial system, together with secondary channels and associated lagoon-estuarine systems.
The Papaloapan region completes the list, which covers 41.2% of the surface; the Coatzacoalcos region, which occupies 20.21%; and the Balsas river region, which covers 0.88% of the surface.
Rivers
All the rivers of this state flow into the Gulf of Mexico. In the same way, the outcrop of all these is found in the slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental or in the Central Table.
The most important rivers in the hydrography of Veracruz include the Pánuco, the Tuxpan and the Cazones in the north.
In the central region are the Tecolutla, Actopan, La Antigua, Jamapa, Nautla and Blanco rivers. For its part, in the south are two of the largest rivers: Papaloapan and Coatzacoalcos.
Lagoons
The hydrography of Veracruz includes a significant number of lagoons, especially coastal lagoons. These are bodies of water located along the coastline.
In most cases, such as the Alvarado and Tamiahua lagoons, they maintain permanent communication with the sea. In addition, they have a continuous inflow of fresh water that comes from the rivers.
For example, the Tecoxtempa River forms the Tumilco estuary and lagoon. Between the limits of the Nautla and Actopan river basin are the Camarón and San Agustín lagoons.
In addition, between the limits of the basins of the La Antigua and Jamapa rivers, the San Julián lagoon stands out.
Large rivers such as the Blanco and the Papaloapan discharge into the Alvarado lagoon. Other important lagoons are that of Ostión, that of Pajaritos and the Mandinga lagoon.
Dams
Among the main hydroelectric dams in Veracruz are Chicayán, Cansaco, El Encanto, Insurgente José E. Molina, Tuxpango and La Cangrejera.
Currently there are projects for the construction of several more dams.
References
- Lara Domínguez, AL (2011). Water resources. In: Biodiversity in Veracruz: State Study. Executive Summary. Vol. I, pp. 285-287. Government of the State of Veracruz, CONABIO.
- Encyclopædia Britannica. (2014, October 23). Veracruz. Retrieved on December 18, 2017, from britannica.com
- Mader, R. (1995). Mexico: adventures in nature. Santa Fe: John Muir Publications.
- Encyclopedia of Municipalities and Delegations of Mexico. (s / f). State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave. Retrieved on December 18, 2017, from siglo.inafed.gob.mx
- Pereyra Díaz, D.; Pérez Sesma, JA and Salas Ortega, M. (2010). Hydrology. In E. Florescano and J. Ortiz Escamilla (Coord.), Atlas of the natural, historical and cultural heritage of Veracruz, pp 85-122. Mexico: Government of the State of Veracruz.
- For all of Mexico. (s / f). Hydrology of the State of Veracruz. Retrieved on December 18, 2017, from paratodomexico.com
- Nations Encyclopedia. (s / f). Veracruz. Retrieved on December 18, 2017, from nationsencyclopedia.com
- Contreras Espinosa, F. (s / f). Coastal lagoons of Veracruz. Retrieved on December 18, 2017, from inecol.edu.mx
- INEGI. (1999). Statistical perspective of Veracruz. Aguascalientes: The National Institute of Statistics and Geography.