Bavispe River facts for kids

The Bavispe River is an important river in Mexico. It flows north for a bit, then mainly southwest. It eventually joins with the Aros River to form the Yaqui River. The Yaqui River then flows into the Gulf of California.

River's Story

The Bavispe River valley has a long history. In the past, it was a place where Apache groups often raided. They also had battles with the Mexican army here. Missionaries, who were people spreading their religion, started living near the upper Bavispe River in the early 1600s.

Where the River Flows

The Bavispe River is a big part of the northern Yaqui River system. The main part of the Bavispe River starts in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. This is right on the border of the state of Chihuahua. It begins southeast of a town called Huachinera, Sonora.

The river is formed when three other rivers meet at a place called Três Rios (which means "Three Rivers"). The Bavispe River then flows northwest through mountains. It reaches the wide Bavispe Valley. This valley goes north before making a big U-turn west around the Sierra del Tigre mountains.

At the northern end of the Sierra del Tigre, another river joins the Bavispe. This is the Rio San Bernardino. Its waters come from the San Bernardino Valley in the very southeast of Cochise County, Arizona. This meeting point is near Morelos, Sonora.

From here, the Bavispe River turns south and southwest. It flows into a large lake called La Angostura Reservoir. This lake is created by the Lázaro Cárdenas Dam. The river then continues for about 80 miles (129 km) south. Finally, it meets the larger Rio Aros. When they join, they form the Yaqui River. The Yaqui River then flows into the Gulf of California near the city of Guaymas, Sonora.

Animals and Plants (Ecology)

The Bavispe River is home to many different kinds of fish. Some native fish include the Yaqui trout, and three types of suckers: Bavispe, Rio Grande, and Yaqui suckers. You can also find Mexican stoneroller, roundtail chub, Yaqui catfish, beautiful shiner, and longfin dace here.

However, some fish that are not native to the river have also moved in. These include black and yellow bullhead, which are types of catfish. They can sometimes cause problems for the native fish.

The area around the river is also important for many mammals. Some of these animals are rare or in danger of disappearing. They include:

• The Sonoran pronghorn antelope
• The Mexican gray wolf
• The jaguar
• The ocelot
• The jaguarundi
• The lesser long-nosed bat

North American beavers used to live in the Bavispe River area a long time ago. People saw beavers in the Guadalupe Canyon in the 1800s and early 1900s. In 1978, someone saw signs of beaver activity on the main part of the Bavispe River. A survey in 1999 found signs of beavers at 14 different spots along the upper Bavispe River. They were often found near cottonwood and willow trees, which beavers like to use for food and building.

See also

In Spanish: Río Bavispe para niños

• List of rivers of Mexico