The Rivers of the Andean region Are characterized by being important for the economic development of Colombia. In general they are a primordial source of natural resources and habitat of thousands of endemic species of the region.
It is denominated Andean region to the zone of Colombia where is located the mountain range of the Andes, which borders with the Orinoquía region . This region is crossed in the southwestern direction by the Western and Central mountain ranges.
Divided into two branches: the Colombian Massif and the birth of the Eastern Cordillera, where multiple volcanoes and water sources are located.
The rivers located in the Andrina region originate directly from the Andes and irrigate the most fertile valleys of Colombia: the Valle del Cauca and the Magdalena Valley, where the largest cities of the country are located and the economic and development centers Important.
In general, the Magdalena River is characterized by being one of the longest in South America, being one of the most dynamic and important waterways in Colombia.
The Cauca River, on the other hand, irrigates fertile lands and is responsible for the development of agricultural and livestock activities, while the Atrato River is a fast transport route with potential to be the commercial channel of America.
The main rivers of the Andean region
Magdalena river
The magdalena river is the most important river of Colombia, it is located centrally to the north of the country. It is born in the bifurcation between the Central and Eastern ranges and has a length of approximately 1,497 kilometers until its mouth in the Caribbean Sea. The Magdalena river has as tributaries to the rivers San Jorge, Cauca and César in the swampy plains to the north of the country.
The mouth of this stream should be dredged in order to give greater depth to allow the passage of ships that want to access the Port of Barranquilla in the department of Atlantic.
In general, it is a river navigable by steamships in the department of Neiva. This river is interrupted only by the rapids located in the municipality of Honda, Tolima.
In turn, it is the fifth longest river in South America and the lands located in the valley around it are extremely fertile. For this reason, in the Magdalena Valley can be found crops that produce health benefits such as coffee , he corn , he banana , he cocoa And cassava.
As for its ecosystem, the Magdalena River flows from the Andes to the Caribbean, and is home to diverse ecosystems, including forests, mountains, valleys, wetlands and seas.
Approximately 2,735 species of animals depend on this river, many of them endemic to the Andean Region, including the Caribbean Night Monkey and hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and fish.
For fishing and the economy, approximately 120,000 inhabitants of the Andean region depend on the Magdalena River for subsistence. In this sense, the most important economic activities related to it are fishing and agriculture.
As an interesting fact, the Magdalena fishing industry generates approximately 62 million tonnes of fish each year and fish is the main source of protein for most of the surrounding communities.
Cauca River
The Cauca River is the second most important river in Colombia, located in the western and northwestern part of the country. This stream of water is born in the Andes near the city of Popayán and runs northwards between the Cordilleras Occidental and Oriental along 1,349 kilometers until joining the Magdalena River in Mompox, in the department of Bolivar.
Approximately in the middle, the Cauca River flows through a depression of fertile land that receives its name from this one and is known as Valle del Cauca. In these lands you can find sugarcane, cacao, banana, maize and rice crops.
In the same way, different types of meat and grazing animals are raised in this valley at an average height of 940 to 1000 meters above sea level.
In general, the Valle del Cauca area is navigable. And passing this, is the Cauca Canyon, place where were extracted large amounts of gold in times of the Spanish Colony.
The Cauca Canyon comprises the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Antioquia to the city of Valdivia. Once these landscapes cross, the river flows into a marshy area before joining the Magdalena River.
During the years of the Spanish Colony, Valle del Cauca was an economic center for cattle and tobacco production, as well as for gold mining. In the 19th century, coffee and sugar crops were included in the area. At present, Valle del Cauca continues to be one of the most important economic centers in Colombia.
However, in terms of environmental problems, in 2007 the Colombian newspaper Time Reported that an average of 500 tons of wastewater was being thrown to the Cauca River each day.
In this line, pollution produced by the mining industry and mercury waste are the main pollutants of the largest water source in Santiago de Cali, one of the most important cities in Colombia.
Atrato River
The Atrato River is located between the Western Cordillera and the Pacific Ocean, located in the northwestern part of Colombia. It is born on the slopes of the western side of the Western Cordillera in the Andes and flows northwards to the Gulf of Urabá, located in the Caribbean Sea.
Its length is approximately 670 kilometers, however, despite its short distance, it is the Colombian river that more water discharges to the sea, depositing at least 5,000 cubic meters of water per second.
This stream carries a considerable amount of sediment, which deposits rapidly in the gulf. In turn, it is easily navigable by small boats that want to move at a fast speed to Quibdó, the capital of the department of Chocó. For this reason, it is considered as an easy route to navigate between the Chocó and the department of Antioquia.
The Atrato River flows through a narrow street between the Western Cordillera and the coast of the Pacific Ocean. In it, small rivers flow like the Truando, the Dirty and the Murri. The gold and platinum mines located in the Chocó deposit their waters in the Atrato, reason why their sands are considered auriferous, that is to say, that in them gold can be found.
References
- Aguirre, M. (2017). International Rivers . Retrieved from"Magdalena River: internationalrivers.org.
- Britannica, T. E. (July 20, 1998). Encyclopædia Britannica . Retrieved from"Atrato River: global.britannica.com".
- Britannica, T. E. (July 20, 1998). Encyclopedia Britannica . Obtained from Magdalena River: global.britannica.com.
- Bushnell, D. (1993). The Making of Modern Colombia: A Nation in Spite of Itself. Berkeley: University of California Press.
- Conservancy, T.N. (2017). The Natural Conservancy . Obtained from Magdalena River Basin Past, present and future of Colombia: nature.org.
- [Links] The Katíos National Natural Park. In L. Sesana, Colombia Natural Parks (Page 315). Bogotá DC: Villegas Editores.
- Woods, S. (2012). Bradt Travel Guides - Colombia. The Vale, UK: Bradt Guides.