THE 5 MOST OUTSTANDING RIVERS OF OAXACA - GEOGRAPHY - 2024

The rivers of Oaxaca are the Papaloapan, Coatzacoalcos, Mixteco, Atoyac (or Río Verde), Tehuantepec, Tonameca, Zimatlán, de la Arena, Perros, Chiapa, de la Lana, Cajonos, Jaltepec and Encajonado.

The use of the rivers of Oaxaca focuses on generating electricity, agriculture and home use. Its hydrographic system is extensive and complicated due to the number of streams and the diversity of names that these have along their route.

Papaloapan River, Oaxaca

The state of Oaxaca is located in the south of Mexico. It limits to the north with Puebla and Veracruz, to the south with the Pacific Ocean, to the east with Chiapas and to the west with Guerrero.

Oaxacan currents have been classified into two slopes: the Gulf of Mexico slope and the Pacific Ocean slope.

The 5 main rivers of Oaxaca

1- Papaloapan River

It corresponds to the Gulf slope. Its most remote sources are the Tehuacán River (Sierra de Puebla) and the Quiotepec River, which when flowing through the Mixteca Oaxaqueña make up the Grande River.

This downstream stream joins the Salado River to be called the Santo Domingo River. This river, after its confluence with the waters of the Valle Nacional river, becomes the Papaloapan river.

With a length of 354 km, the Papaloapan forms the second hydrographic basin in the country in terms of flow.

2- Coatzacoalcos River

Also corresponding to the Gulf slope, but of less flow and extension in relation to the Papaloapan.

It is formed by the currents of the Cempoaltepetl and the Sierra Atravesada, to later flow into the port of Minatitlán in Veracruz.

3- Mixtec River

It is the first of the 3 streams that make up the Pacific slope.

This river is formed by the union of the small streams of Huajuapán and a part of the Teposcolula with the channels that come from Tlaxiaco, Silacayoapan, Juxtlahuaca and Teposcolula.

4- Atoyac River

It is the second current that makes up the Pacific slope.

The Atoyac or Verde river is formed in the Sedas mountain with the waters of the streams of San Juan del Estado, San Agustín Etla, Viguera, Jalatlaco river and Seco river.

Later, in Yogana the Tamazulapan and San Miguelito join the Atoyac.

On its right side, the Atoyac receives the currents of the Jalapilla, Cuilapan and Santa Cruz Mixtepec rivers.

In the territory of Nochixtlán this converges with the currents of the Negro river and those that come from Chichoapan, Yodocono, Zahuatlán and Jaltepec, to form the Sordo river.

Downstream it converges with the waters of the Yosonotu, Yucuite, Yutamá, Nuyóo, the Cabecera Nueva and the Zapote, to finally flow into the Pacific Ocean.

5- Tehuantepec River

It is the third current component of the Pacific slope. The Tehuantepec originates in Miahuatlán with the influx of the currents of the Tabaje and Mijangos rivers.

On its way it receives the waters of the Yaxe, Quiechapa, Las Vírgenes and Tequisistlán rivers on its right bank.

And on its left side it receives the currents of the Juquila, Acatlancito, Las Margaritas and Quetzaltepec rivers, to finally flow into the Pacific Ocean as well.

References

1. Geography of Oaxaca. (October 15, 2017). In: es.wikiperdia.org
2. González, F. (2011). Identification of studies and projects in the Water Sector: Oaxaca, Puebla and Tlaxcala. In: agua.unam.mx
3. Oaxaca. (November 7, 2017). In: es.wikiperdia.org
4. Oaxaca. (sf). Retrieved on November 14, 2017 from: inafed.gob.mx
5. Toledo, A. (2003). Rivers, Coasts, Seas. Towards an Integrated Analysis of the Hydrological Regions of Mexico. In: inecc.gob.mx