The rivers of Tabasco are abundant and cross the entire region. The hydrographic complexes include numerous lakes, lagoons, swamps, streams, mangroves, and rivers that flow into the Gulf of Mexico.
In the state there are sources of both fresh and salt water. The hydrography of the state is so abundant that the culture of the inhabitants revolves around it.
Until the 1950s, boats were the main means of transportation through the state and fishing was the largest source of income.
In the territory there are many small rivers that join, forming a network of tributaries.
The mixture of abundant water sources and flat lands make the rainy seasons synonymous with floods.
But it also produces very fertile land in the dry season, ideal for agricultural activities. These activities have become one of the sources of economic income for the state.
You may also be interested in the natural resources of Tabasco.
The 3 main rivers of Tabasco
1- Usumacinta River
This river is the most affluent in the country. The origin of the river is in Guatemala. In its journey it borders the state of Chiapas and enters Tabasco, until its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico.
It crosses Tabasco through the Usumacinta canyon, a great ecological reserve.
At one point in the Tres Brazos region in Centla, the Grijalva River joins it, together forming a broad region known as the Centla wetlands. This area is a biological reserve, one of the largest in Central America.
2- Grijalva River
This tributary is the second largest in the country. Although it was previously known as the Tabasco River, it owes its current name to Juan de Grijalva.
This is the river that the Spanish conqueror crossed in 1518 on his exploration trip through Mayan territories.
Its source is in the highlands of Chiapas. In its journey of approximately 480 km, it borders the border of the states of Chiapas and Tabasco.
Later it enters the state of Tabasco and crosses Villahermosa, the state capital, also ending in the Gulf of Mexico.
3- Tonalá River
This river was sighted for the first time by the Spanish pilot Antón de Alaminos, which is why it was called the “Santo Antón river”.
It is located in the southeast of the state, on the isthmus of Tehuantepec, and its mouth is the Gulf of Mexico. The tributary is formed by the meeting of the Tancochapa and Zanapa rivers, and measures approximately 84 km.
The sources of this river form the border between the states of Tabasco and Veracruz, and much of it is wide and deep enough to make it navigable with medium-sized boats.
Its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico is an abundant fishing area, especially for shrimp.
References
- Local development in the Mexican tropics: bib.uia.mx
- Water quality trend in the rivers of Tabasco. Ramos-Herrera, S. Broca-Martínez, L. Laines-Canepa, JR Carrera-Velueta, JM (2012)
- Biodiversity of the state of Tabasco. Well, J. (2005)
- Tabasco: visitmexico.com (2017)
- Rivers and lakes: agua.org.mx