Bogotá River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bogotá River |
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Map of Bogotá River and its drainage basin
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| Country | Colombia |
| Department | Cundinamarca |
| Provinces |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Guacheneque Páramo Villapinzón 3,300 m (10,800 ft) 5°13′19.3″N 73°32′03.5″W / 5.222028°N 73.534306°W |
| River mouth | Magdalena River Girardot 4°17′19.2″N 74°47′47″W / 4.288667°N 74.79639°W |
| Length | 375 km (233 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Magdalena Basin Caribbean Sea |
| Basin size | 6,000 km2 (2,300 sq mi) |
| Tributaries | |
The Bogotá River is a very important river in the Cundinamarca region of Colombia. It flows from the northeast to the southwest. The river also runs along the western edge of the big city of Bogotá. Sadly, because many people live and work near the river, it has faced some serious pollution challenges.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The Bogotá River gets its name from an old word, Muyquytá. This word comes from the Chibcha people. It means "outside of the farm fields." Sometimes, especially in older writings, the upper part of the Bogotá River is also called the Funza River.
Where Does the Bogotá River Flow?
The Bogotá River starts high up in the mountains. Its source is in a place called Villapinzón. This area is in the northeastern part of Cundinamarca.
The river flows for about 150 kilometers (93 miles) across the Bogotá savanna. Along its journey, it passes through towns like Zipaquirá and eleven other small communities. Then, it reaches the city of Bogotá.
As the river flows past the western side of Bogotá, it collects water from other rivers. These include the Salitre, Fucha, and Tunjuelito Rivers. After leaving the town of Soacha, the Bogotá River dramatically drops off the savanna. This creates the beautiful Tequendama Falls.
From there, the river continues its journey downwards very quickly. It drops about 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) in just 50 kilometers (31 miles)! Finally, it joins the Magdalena River near the city of Girardot.
What Rivers Join the Bogotá River?
Many smaller rivers flow into the Bogotá River. These are called tributaries.
- On the left side, you'll find rivers like the Teusacá, Torca, Juan Amarillo, Fucha, Tunjuelo, and Soacha.
- On the right side, rivers like the Neusa, Río Frío, Bojacá, Subachoque, and Apulo join in.
How Warm is the River?
The average temperature of the Bogotá River usually stays between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius (75 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit).
Gallery
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Bogotá River close to Zipaquirá
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Bogotá River in Briceño
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Bogotá River in Engativá
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Bogotá River close to Tequendama
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Tequendama Falls in the Bogotá River
See also
In Spanish: Río Bogotá para niños
- List of rivers of Colombia
- Bogotá savanna, Tequendama – an important archaeological site where people lived long ago along the Bogotá River
- Tequendama Falls
