- The 7 most important rivers in the Caribbean region of Colombia
- 1- Magdalena River
- 2- Cauca River
- 3- Sinú River
- 4- Saint George
- 5- Saldaña
- 6- Cesar
- 7- Atrato
- References
The main rivers in the Caribbean region of Colombia are the Magdalena, Cauca, Sinú, San Jorge, Saldaña, Cesar and Atrato rivers. This region is in the north of the country and is adjacent to the Caribbean Sea.
The Caribbean region stretches from the Gulf of Urabá in the west to the La Guajira Peninsula in the east. It is crossed by several rivers that come from the Andes mountain ranges and flow into the sea.
The most important ports in Colombia are also located in the Caribbean region, which are Santa Marta and Cartagena.
The 7 most important rivers in the Caribbean region of Colombia
1- Magdalena River
The Magdalena River originates in the south of the country, near Lake Magdalena in the páramo de las Papas. It flows north towards the territory of the Caribbean Sea in Bocas de Ceniza.
Its length is 1,558 kilometers, and it is navigable for 1,300 kilometers without interruption. It empties into the sea, to the west of the Santa Marta massif, between Santa Marta and Barranquilla.
This coastal area is home to the Ciénaga de Santa Marta and the Magdalena River delta, which is the most important in Colombia.
This great watercourse has a strategic economic importance. This is because it produces electrical energy, as well as adding natural beauty to its surroundings.
It is the most important transportation artery in the history of the country. However, deforestation has been changing its flow and its role has become less significant.
2- Cauca River
It is born in the Colombian massif near Laguna del Buey, and flows north between the western and central mountain ranges to its mouth in the Magdalena River.
It is the second longest in the Caribbean region, with 1,350 kilometers. It has a stream full of areas of rapids, so it is not important for the movement of goods.
3- Sinú River
It is the third most important river, after the Magdalena and the Cauca. It is born in the Nudo de Paramillo and flows directly towards the Caribbean Sea, ending at Boca de Tinajo.
The Sinú Valley is among the most fertile in the world, so it makes a great contribution to the economy. It is also used for the generation of hydroelectric energy with the Urrá reservoir and two other hydroelectric plants.
4- Saint George
It is born in the Paramillo National Natural Park and runs through the mountains of San Jerónimo and Ayapel, and then flows into the Cauca River.
5- Saldaña
It empties into the Magdalena River and its flow is enough to supply a population of 102 million inhabitants, according to studies. The length of the main channel is 205 kilometers.
6- Cesar
Located in the department of the same name in the north of Colombia, the Cesar River crosses said department and is a tributary of the Magdalena River.
7- Atrato
This river is located in the northwest of Colombia. It is born in the hills to the west of the Western Cordillera of the Andes and flows north, to discharge its waters in the Gulf of Urabá in the Caribbean.
It is only 670 kilometers long but discharges about 5,000 cubic meters of water per second. It carries a large amount of sediment. It is navigable in small boats.
References
- Harvey F. Kline. (2016). Drainage and soils. 10/13/2017, from Encyclopædia Britannica Website: britannica.com
- US Department of Interior. (2016). Caribbean Coast: Introduction. 10/13/2017, from Coastal Website: coastal.er.usgs.gov
- Pollard, Peter. Colombia Handbook. Lincolnwood, IL: Passport Books, 1998.
- Marcus Sims. (2017). Geographic regions of Colombia. 10/13/2017, from Discover Colombia Website: discovercolombia.com
- Editor. (2014). Colombian Caribbean region. 10/13/2017, from Colombia Info.org Website: colombiainfo.org