Choluteca River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Choluteca River
Choluteca River near the city of Choluteca
Country	Honduras
Physical characteristics
Main source	Choluteca, Choluteca, Honduras
River mouth	Pacific Ocean Honduras 0 m (0 ft)
Length	349 km (217 mi)
Basin features
Basin size	7,681 km2 (2,966 sq mi)

The Choluteca River is a major river in southern Honduras. It is also known as Río Grande or Choluteca. This river starts in the Francisco Morazán Department. Its source is near a town called Lepaterique.

From its source, the Choluteca River flows north through Tegucigalpa. This is the capital city of Honduras. Then, it turns south. It passes through the El Paraíso Department. Finally, it reaches the Choluteca Department and the city of Choluteca.

The river ends in the Pacific Ocean. Its mouth is close to the coastal town of Cedeño. This area is known for its wetlands. The river flows into the Gulf of Fonseca.

River Facts

The Choluteca River is about 349 kilometers (217 miles) long. This measurement is from where it starts to where it meets the ocean. Its entire water collection area, called a basin, covers 7,681 square kilometers (2,966 square miles).

Water Levels and Climate

The river's water level changes throughout the year. It gets much bigger between May and October. This is because it is the rainy season in Honduras. During these months, the river carries a lot more water.

Sometimes, the river basin faces severe dry periods. This often happens with a weather pattern called El Niño. El Niño can cause less rain than usual. When the river basin is very dry, it can lead to serious bush fires.

No Dams

There are no large dams built on the main part of the Choluteca River. This means the river flows freely. It keeps its natural path and health.

Hurricane Mitch's Impact

The Choluteca River caused a lot of damage during Hurricane Mitch in 1998. This hurricane was very powerful. It brought huge amounts of rain to Honduras.

Flooding in Tegucigalpa

In Tegucigalpa, the river overflowed its banks. It washed away entire neighborhoods. Many homes and buildings were destroyed. The city faced massive destruction.

Damage in Choluteca City

Further downstream, in the city of Choluteca, the river swelled even more. It became six times its normal size. This massive flood destroyed many neighborhoods. Part of the city's business area was also ruined.

Morolica Rebuilt

The hurricane also devastated a small town called Morolica. The entire town was destroyed by the floodwaters. Because of this, the town had to be rebuilt. The new Morolica was constructed three miles upriver from its original spot.

River's New Path

Hurricane Mitch was so strong it even changed the river's course. After the hurricane, the Choluteca River no longer flowed under the New Choluteca Bridge. The river found a new path.

See also

• Rivers of Honduras
• Water Resources Management: The Choluteca river basin in Honduras
• Water Resources Management in Honduras

Images for kids

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  1910 image of a bridge on the River Choluteca in Tegucigalpa

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  In Spanish: Río Choluteca para niños