WHAT RIVERS ARE THE BORDER OF MEXICO? - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The rivers that border Mexico are the Rio Grande and Colorado (border with the United States), the Suchiate, Chixoy and Usumacinta rivers (border with Guatemala) and the Hondo River (border with Belize).

The hydrographic characteristics of these borders make possible the practice of specific economic, agricultural and electricity generation activities in each case.

The border with the United States represents a critical point, given the intrinsic economic activity of that sector, and the social and cultural implications inherent to the area.

On the other hand, on the borders of Mexico with Guatemala and Belize, there are no language barriers between the countries, and there are more socio-cultural affinities, compared to the United States.

What are the river borders of Mexico?

Mexico's natural borders to the north (USA) and southwest (Guatemala and Belize) are determined by rivers, which geographically facilitates the demarcation of territories between countries.

Here are the rivers that border Mexico with neighboring countries:

- Border with the United States

It is made up of the Rio Grande and the Colorado River.

1- Rio Bravo: also known as Rio Grande, it is born in the San Juan de Colorado Mountains, and empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

It has a length of approximately 3,000 kilometers, and determines the border between the State of Texas and Mexico.

2- Colorado River: it is born in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and descends towards the west until it empties into the Gulf of California.

It is 2,330 kilometers long, of which 28 kilometers correspond to the border between the state of Arizona and Mexico.

On its way, the Colorado River passes through seven US states: Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and California.

- Border with Guatemala

It is constituted by the Suchiate, Chixoy and Usumacinta rivers

1- Suchiate River: it rises at the foot of the Tacaná Volcano, in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, until it flows into the Pacific Ocean.

It is 161 kilometers long, of which 75 kilometers mark the western border between Mexico and Guatemala.

2- Usumacinta River: it originates in the highest sections of the Sierra de Chamá, in the Guatemalan Department of Quiché, and flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

It is characterized as the largest river in Central America, and has an approximate length of 1,200 kilometers.

3- Río Chixoy: Also known as Río Negro, this river is a slope of the Usumacinta River, it is born in the Department of Quiché in Guatemala, and flows into the Salinas River.

The Chixoy River is the second longest river in Guatemala, with a length of 418 kilometers.

Given its characteristics, in the energy source of the Chixoy hydroelectric plant, which supplies the vast majority of the energy requirements of Guatemala.

- Border with Belize

The border between Mexico and Belize is determined by the Rio Hondo.

This river is born at a confluence between the Río Azul and the Río Bravo and flows into the Bay of Chetumal, south of the Yucatán Peninsula.

The Rio Hondo has a length of 209 kilometers. Of that distance, about 115 kilometers demarcate the border between Belize and Mexico.

References

1. Dilworth, D., and Schmidt, R. (1999). Rio Grande. London England. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Recovered from: britannica.com
2. Loeffler, M., and Wescoat, J. (1999). Colorado River. London England. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Recovered from: britannica.com
3. Chixoy River (2015). Guatemala City, Guatemala. Recovered from: wikiguate.com
4. Usumacinta River (nd). Havana Cuba. Recovered from: ecured.cu
5. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). Rio Chixoy. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org
6. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). Deep River. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org
7. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). Suchiate River. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org